The Eagles have already shown improvement with a hard-fought tie against the strong–sided Coastal Carolina University, as well as two wins against South Carolina State University and Eastern Tennessee State University. The team has shown growth in character, as well, responding to a 3-0 loss against North Florida University by fighting hard and beating Jacksonville University. The Lady Eagles sit third in the Big South Conference as they finish their non-conference season going 4-2-1.
Senior leaders Kelly Horan, Brianna Palmer and JoJo Taylor express their excitement about the season’s start and where expectations lie for the future.
“I think we are more successful this year on and off the field. Much of our success comes from our off–the–field bonding. It is a fun environment where mistakes are okay,” Taylor said. “I would love to help build an environment where everyone is positive and we learn from our mistakes. We aren’t perfect by any means, but we are slowly connecting more and more every day.”
Taylor sees the team focusing their energy on individual games rather than the Big South Conference in the year ahead.
“We have an end goal, yes, but it’s important to not focus too much on the destination when we have a long journey of games ahead that we need to focus on,” Taylor said.
Co-captain senior Kelly Horan agrees, in large part due to the newfound team dynamic.
“This season we’re playing at a much higher level than in the past. There’s a different energy to this team, and we mesh really well,” she said. Horan is expectant of a “very positive direction heading into conference play.”
Co-captain senior defender Brianna Palmer also speaks highly of the season.
“I think our team is at a really good place right now. We’ve worked really hard this preseason, and I think the results show it,” Palmer said. “Our energy in every practice and game is something that stands out, in my opinion, and is something that might have lacked in previous seasons. We are really excited to see where we can go from here.”
This upcoming season, 19 of the 27 players are returners from last year, and there are a total of eight new Eagles to the program. The freshmen include: midfielder Bella Hovis, forward Lexi Sheely, forward Alyssa Fernandez, midfielder Laurin Uptegrove, defender Mackenzie Scandrett and goalkeeper Amanda Esposito. Defender Morrison Trnavsky, a transfer from Furman University and forward Kayla Dendy also join in the lineup of new players. The seniors said that all the players add character, energy and talent to this dynamic team.
This weekend the team will kick off the Big South Conference on the road at Presbyterian. Be sure to support your Lady Eagles this season at Eagle Field as they host five more home games.
Contributor: Natalie Royaards
