The women’s club soccer team looks forward to hosting its first and final home game of the season against the Yellow Jackets this Sunday at 2 p.m. Although the club team usually plays on the upper Miller Fields, the venue is currently scheduled to be at Lee Field. However, that may change between now and Sunday.
Freshman Cristina Maldonado looks forward to her first home game.
“It’s going to be exciting,” Maldonado said. “It’s our first home game of the season. It should be a very interesting game.”
After a fall season record of 4-5-1 and a successful spring recruitment drive, the team defeated the ECU club team 3-1 and is hoping to achieve its first undefeated season in the team’s history.
Also a first in the team’s recent history is the presence of a coach. The team has previously been completely student-led with captains serving as player-coaches but this season they have acquired the assistance of Mike Johnson. Freshman Amanda Welsh respects Johnson’s contribution to the team.
“He’s played soccer his entire life,” Welsh said. “He’s played in tournaments overseas. He’s really good for us. He’s pushing us more technically than we’ve been pushed before. He’s definitely getting our skills more refined. He knows what he’s talking about. He’s pushing us fitness-wise, which is also good. Overall, it’s good for us to have him to help us be a more cohesive team. It’s a lot more different than having a player-coach, which is what we’re used to.”
According to the team’s captain, Logan Corley, Johnson is the future brother-in-law of one of the members of the team. After being offered to play soccer at Davidson, Johnson decided to follow family tradition and attended Carolina. Corley mentioned a wager set between Johnson and the team due to the rivalry between the Wolfpack and the Tarheels.
“We have a bet with him,” Corley said. “If we win the Clemson tournament, he has to walk down Franklin Street while wearing an N.C. State t-shirt.”
The fixtures between the Wake Forest and State club teams have not ended favorably for the Pack in recent years. Corley lamented on her team’s performance in their last encounter.
“The last time we played them it was in a 7v7 tournament at Carolina in the fall,” Corley said. “Unfortunately, we lost. The structure is very different, however. The last time we played them 11v11 we barely had enough people to play. They beat us 3-1. It will be interesting to play them with a full squad.”
The Pack will be looking to junior striker Allie Leonard to help provide goals for the win. Corley recognizes Leonard’s recent success.
“Allie [Leonard] has been on fire,” Corley said. “She scored two at regionals and 2 against ECU. Everyone has good looks on goal but we’re just having trouble keeping them on frame. Hopefully that will change on Sunday.”
