CLEVELAND, Tenn.-Coach Chris Hennessey and his Lee women's soccer team will be challenged when it opens a six-game slate beginning at Lenoir-Rhyne (Hickory, N.C.) on Thursday at 4 p.m. The Lady Flames play five of their first six dates on the road.
After facing a Lenoir-Rhyne team, a member of the South Atlantic Conference that advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II Tournament last season, the Lady Flames will turn around and head for Jefferson City and face rival Carson-Newman on Saturday. Lee will be at home on Sept. 6, hosting North Georgia, but then it is back on the road at Trevecca Nazarene and then GSC action begins at West Alabama and Alabama Huntsville.
Tough Schedule
Looking at the early schedule he pointed out, "We always play a tough non-conference schedule. It helps us on two fronts; it prepares us for a rugged GSC schedule and gives us the opportunity to get a look at other top-quality teams while highlighting the areas we need to improve on moving forward."
Pleased with Work
The Lady Flames have battled tough weather conditions to get ready to open the 2023 season. Coach Hennessey said he was pleased with the work effort of his team and their play in the three exhibition contests.
Veteran Leadership
Heading into Thursday's action, a pair of preseason All-GSC selections will lead the way. Graduate student Kate Dirkse is a rugged defender who also tallied seven goals and an assist last season while graduate forward Ellie Crisler was outstanding with 15 goals and six assists.
Defender Jordan Blair came on strong and helped the offense with two goals and four assists. Senior forward Tatum Miller added five goals and two assists. Junior Ashley Eulo was solid with two goals and two assists and junior forward Kassidy Kellett chipped in with three goals and an assist.
Everyone Back
"We have everyone back who contributed a lot of minutes from last year," noted the veteran leader who enters his ninth year as head coach. "It is hard to single anyone out as we have a competitive and talented group this year."
However, Hennessey did allow his sophomore class gained a lot of experience last season. "Overall, I am eager to see them assert themselves more this year."
Sophomore midfielders Grace Berry and Juliana Lopes could pace the talented second-year group. Berry finished with seven goals and three assists while Lopes countered with four scores and four dish-offs. Second-year players Josie Taylor and Abby Whitcomb manned the goals for the Lady Flames. No doubt, depth is the strong point of the 2023 squad which totals 23 players and is made up of four freshmen, five sophomores, six juniors, five seniors and three student graduates.
Tighten Up on Defense
"There are two areas that we need to improve on," stressed Hennessey. "Mentally we must prepare and start games better. Secondly, we must tighten up a bit defensively and become a team whose mindset is to defend first." The Lady Flames have always taken pride in their defense, allowing only 20 goals in 21 games last season.
Another Rugged GSC Race
The Lady Flames are picked to finish third in the GSC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Last season Lee finished 12-4-5 overall and 8-2-3 in GSC play. In tournament play, Lee upset top-seeded West Florida in the GSC semifinals and lost to Mississippi College in the championship game. In NCAA DII tournament action, West Florida turned the table, defeating the Lady Flames 1-0. All three clubs are predicted to battle it out for top honors again. "We have set individual and team goals," said Hennessey who did not make any of the preseason goals public. "Overall, we know what our minimum standards and expectations are."
