SOCCER GAMEWEEK

 

 

11.03.08

 

LA GRANDE, Ore. –  While the Eastern Oregon soccer team was in the midst of a rebuilding year, they took away from it a hunger and desire to get better. The team was able to capture five wins on the season, three of those being conference wins in the last month of the season. The team was able to develop chemistry over time and was much improved at the end of the year with their passing, ball control and scoring.

 

On a team full of sophomores and juniors, Mountaineer fans were shown flashes of brilliance and some great team play that led to some solid games down the stretch. It will now be the Mountaineers responsibility to continue the improvement they showed on the field this season. With a new team and coach, the Mounties were in a constant state of development all season. "Our system changed this year and we were constantly trying to get our new system to work and put players where they need to be," said head coach Jessy Watson.

 

"Obviously we were disappointed with the way the season went," said junior Tennly Paul-Bowden. Paul-Bowden is one of three team captains. "We are looking forward to coming back next year and continuing to improve." The team will only be losing one player to graduation as senior Tara Moran has finished up her eligibility this fall. "The loss of Tara will be hard for us to replace," said junior and captain Martha Billings. "But with us returning all of our players and building on the things we did well, we should excel this next season."

 

The team will have six seniors on the roster next year, as Lori Wilson is set to return to action after redshirting this season. "We will have to become a more mature team," said Watson. They hope that this season will have helped them work out the kinks of playing with new teammates. "We had a lot of new girls this year," said Billings. "We can build off of what we have worked on."

 

As for senior captain Tara Moran, she has high hopes for the team despite the fact that she is done playing. "It was a great experience to get to play on this team," said Moran. "I wish the girls the best of luck in the seasons to come."

 

 

 

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