By Molly McSweyn|
For the first time in over a decade, the Pilots failed to make it to the WCC playoffs. Now, the team starts their spring season with a roster of only 12 players, mainly due to a loss of seniors and three other players.
The spring season is nontraditional, with the Pilots only playing college teams that are a drive away, and professional teams, such as Seattle FC Reign and the Portland Thorns.
The Pilots’ first game was against the Portland Thorns on March 21. The Pilots lost 4-0.
A week later, on March 28, the team battled against Seattle FC Reign, another professional team that boasts 6 UP alums. Although the Pilots lost 5-0, the team felt happy with their performance.
“Obviously the pace is a lot faster than what we are used to with college teams,” freshman Hannah Griffiths Boston said. “I mean, they have been playing professionally for a while so obviously they are way faster, but I think we held our own out there.”
During these games, the team has been faced with the challenge of playing full 90 minute games with only 12 players, when a normal roster boasts at least 18.
The team is losing two graduating seniors and three other players, while freshman Jess Kennedy and Kaycie Young will sit out the season because of injuries.
But the Pilots’ low numbers aren’t creating any problems for the women. In fact, the team seems to be re-energized after coming off of a disappointing fall season.
“For the team, I am hoping we can move past last season since it wasn't as good as we wanted it to be,” freshman Jess Kennedy said “And I think with the group of people we have now, and how everyone's mindset is, we are pretty determined to do better than we have, especially after last fall.”
Although the scores against the Thorns and Reign did not show much, the team has a different atmosphere about it stepping onto the turf.
“Looking from last season, I have heard some of the fans say that this is a completely different team that they are watching,” junior Noelle La Prevotte said. “I think that we are finally getting the sense of Portland soccer back.”
Molly McSweyn is a sports reporter for The Beacon. She can be reached at mcsweyn18@up.edu or on Twitter @MollyMcSweyn.
