COLUMBUS, Ohio – Head coach
Matt Ogden has his sights set on higher achievements this coming season with the Capital University women's soccer team. A season ago, the program advanced to the OAC Tournament Semifinals, but were ousted after a drama-filled 12-round penalty kick shootout. This season, Capital aims to get over the hump and play for that Conference title.
Last Season in a Nutshell
Much like the other sports at Capital, the women's soccer program endured a shortened, stressful spring season this past year. Despite the outside commotion, the team started the season, brighter than most others and on a streak, hardly ever seen before. To start the season, Capital defeated the likes of Heidelberg, John Carroll, Marietta, Mount Union, and Muskingum by a combined margin of 27-0. It wasn't until their sixth game of the season at Ohio Northern where they would drop their first game of the season and concede their first goal in a 1-0 loss. Goalkeeper
Lauren White had started her collegiate career on a nearly 500 minute shutout streak before conceding at ONU. Despite the setback, Cap defeated Wilmington to lock up a top-three finish in the OAC, but a loss to Otterbein settled them to third.
In the tournament, Capital eased past John Carroll prior to the heartbreaking semifinal loss at ONU in the 12th round of penalty kicks.
For their bright play, seven players were named to the All-OAC teams at year end. Highlighting the bunch was
Lexi Snider who won the OAC Freshman of the Year award and first team honors. Joining her on the first team were seniors
Emily Mathias and
Jayde Hoffmann. Balancing things out were
Haley Moore,
Olivia Rotolo, and
Madeline Woodruff being named second team honorees, while White was tabbed honorable mention.
Top Returners
Of the seven All-Conference players from a year ago, five will return to Bernlohr Stadium this fall.
Woodruff led the team in scoring with 14 points on six goals and two assists, while Snider was not far behind with five goals and a pair of helpers. In all, Cap had nine players score more than one goal last year, and all but one, return to the fray this season to help Ogden's team find the scoresheet in 2021.
Defensively, White will hold down the fort in between the pipes, while
Haley Moore and
Cassidy Ryan will be heavily relied upon to lock down the back line. In the midfield,
Gabbi Viggiano and
Sophia Leonetti and
Avery Hart all return to facilitate play through the lines.
In addition to those listed, Ogden will have several other reliable returners on his team sheet week after week to choose from.
New Faces in the Crowd
To compliment the host of returning talent, Capital is welcoming seven freshmen to the team this year. The new faces all possess the capability to see playing time right away and will force Ogden to make tough decisions in naming his starting 11 each game.
In the Polls
Capital was picked to finish third in the OAC preseason coach's polls with 69 points and two first-place votes. The Purple and White were slotted in just behind Ohio Northern (78 points, six first place votes) and Otterbein (72 points, two first place votes).
Season Schedule
Capital has a blistering start to the season with a host of quality opponents. To get things going, Case Western Reserve travels to Columbus on September 1st for a 7 p.m. kickoff. The team will then trek to Pittsburgh to take on Carnegie Mellon on September 5th. Further balancing their non-conference slate of games, Capital will face Grove City, Mt. St. Joseph, Ohio Wesleyan, Hanover, Hope, and Wittenberg.
The Purple and White will open up OAC play on October 2nd at 1 p.m. at home as they play Baldwin Wallace. The team will then go on to face Heidelberg, Mount Union, Ohio Northern, and Wilmington at home, while playing John Carroll, Marietta, Muskingum and Otterbein on the road.
