As our Winthrop Eagles await kickoff, much work is being put in to prepare for this moment. With over 70 percent of our student athletes making Presidential Honor Roll this past year, four being soccer Eagles, the players are extremely hard at work on and off of the field. Megan Loveland being one of those players to make Honor Roll said, “I’ve learned a whole new level of discipline and commitment, as well as time management. In playing soccer at a college level it has kept me very active and is a great outlet during a stressful day of school.” Not only do our Eagles continue to take pride on the field, but our players take pride off of the field as well. Izzy Barton, junior midfielder, talks about her experience being a student athlete at Winthrop. “Playing for the school has been a great experience, it’s affected me in such a positive light. I’ve made such great friends and have a great support system from the athletic department. We are student athletes so obviously school comes first, and my coaches really show their appreciation with how well we do in school,” Barton said.
The Women’s team suffered from a couple of injuries last season. Five critical players including, forwards Morrison Trnavsky and Aylssa Fernadez , goalkeeper Cammie Kaminski, and midfielder Kendall Claxton, were out for the season due to injuries. This close knit group is ready to take this season head–on, now having all of their players fully recovered. Lulu Jennings, midfielder and one of the injured from last year, is back to 100 percent and ready to get back on the field to accomplish the team’s biggest goal of the season, to secure the Big South title. “Last year I suffered a season ending injury and this past August I got fully cleared. So to be able to play with my teammates again is something I’ve been looking forward to for a long time,” Jennings said.
Likewise, the Men’s Soccer team is gearing up for the season, eager to come back better than last season. Andres Carvajal, senior midfielder, from Caracas, Venezuela, said, “The team has a lot of talent that wasn’t utilized last season. This time we are much more united as a team in every aspect, and that is going to be reflected in the results.” The team arrives on campus earlier than the normal move–in date for many students, which allows the team the opportunity to spend more focused time getting to know each other. In doing so, this time spent together unites the team mentally and physically before the start of the season. “The preseason has been very beneficial. We have done a lot of conditioning and games that are really helping us get to know each other as much as possible before the season starts. We are getting in our best shape, anxiously waiting for the beginning of the season,” Carvajal said.
One of the goals this year for the men’s team is preparing to stop their opponents and allow for less scoring against them this season. The Eagles are planning tactics to be more put together and working as a unit offensively and defensively. Senior forward, Marc Carreras, plans on playing every game like it is his last, putting in his full effort and playing until the last whistle. “We are working both fitness and tactics so we know which moves to play depending on the game’s situation and I’m sure the results will come,” Carreras said.
The annual Big South Conference preseason men’s soccer poll was released, which has Winthrop voted seventh for the 2019 season. Winthrop was 4-11-0 overall and 3-5 in the Big South in 2018 and returns nine players that started at least eight games. In addition to the nine starters the team has a total of 15 players returning that played at least seven games. The 2018 season ended on a high note with a 4-1 victory over Longwood.
The Eagles will kick off the season soon, with back to back home games. The Eagles need your support. Come out and show your school spirit at Eagle Field.
Women’s Upcoming Schedule:
Aug. 25 @1PM vs. Davidson
Aug. 31 @6PM vs. Wofford
Men’s Soccer Upcoming Schedule:
Aug. 24 @7PM Exhibition vs. Appalachian State
Sept. 8 @7PM vs. Furman
