By Kurt Miller
The Kalamazoo College women's soccer team finished second in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association in 2014, and simply put, 2015 could be even better.
"Last year was a great year as far as results, as far as our style of play and those are all really positive things for our program," head coach Bryan Goyings said. "Not only as a team, but individually, we developed and came together. Going forward this year, it's a taller task to replicate that, but I also think the players have worked really hard because the taste of success was a very positive experience and I know they want to get back there."
Of the team's 33 goals scored in 2014, 27 of the goals were scored by players returning for the 2015 season. Rising sophomore Madison Moote led the way in 2014 with seven goals in her freshman season and was honored for her efforts by being placed on the All-MIAA second team. Three other returners scored four or more goals in 2014, including All-MIAA first team selection and All-Central Region selection, junior Paige Sambor. Junior Suzanne Miller scored four goals and tallied four assists and Madeline Chilcote scored five goals.
The talent retained in the attacking third and offensively may not be the biggest strength of the team in 2015, though. Despite losing goalkeeper Lucy Mailing who was an All-MIAA first team selection and an All-Central third team selection, the team's backline and the defending from the group as a whole could be what gets this team over the top.
"It's so cliché to say 'defense wins championships' but if you don't give up many goals, you're not going to lose many games," Goyings said. "In my time here, our most successful seasons have really been based on strong defending. Lucy is going to be a tough loss, but the defense was very strong las year because we have a superb collection of defenders—but that should not take away from the midfielders and the forwards because in our game defending must be a collective effort."
Junior Allie Brodsky returns to the Hornets' backline having started every match in 2014, which also earned her a place on the All-MIAA first team. She led the Hornets to the fewest goals allowed (13) among all teams in the MIAA.
Other key returners on the K backline include Christina Dandar and Katie Sorensen, who played every minute in 2014 for the Hornets at right back.
The Hornets begin the 2015 season on the road at the University of Chicago on Sept. 1 and begin MIAA play on Sept. 8 at Hope College. K will host its first home game of the season on Sept. 12 against Trine University.