The Kennesaw State soccer team played two exhibitions matches last week, giving players game experience in preparation for their opening match of the season.
During a positive season, the Owls finished with eight wins, seven losses, and four draws. The squad consisted of 14 freshmen, and a season’s worth of experience will help the remaining sophomores heading into the next.
The relative youth of the team makes it especially important for the veterans to lead the team, and Head Coach Benji Walton has established his emphasis on that. Team leaders such as Isabella Contreras and Carly Pressgrove will be tasked with helping solidify team cohesion.
“We are excited to get started on our journey for 2018,” Walton said. “I think our returners are hungry to prove themselves and we have a good mix of new personalities coming in that will add an even more competitive edge to our team culture.”
For the team, a challenging schedule awaits them in the fall, but the chance to improve by playing strong opponents will be increased as well. The Owls play two Southeastern Conference teams in Alabama and Georgia as well as other talented teams.
Despite the difficult nature of the schedule, Walton welcomes the challenge and wants the team to be tested so that they can gain confidence.
“We scheduled a tough one right away on purpose,” Walton said. “We want to get exposed, we want to see where our breakdowns are and we want to see what we can do well against a good opponent. Hopefully we will defend as a unit.”
The team played together in the spring as well, and Walton was impressed with the shape of the team. Typically, the team is set up in a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3 formation, and Walton’s challenge for the team as a whole is improving the passing and organization in the offensive third of the field.
The Owls begin their season on Friday, Aug. 17 at 7 p.m. as they host the Western Carolina Catamounts.
