IU women’s club soccer team finishes season; emphasizes fun, friendship

For most teams, starting with a first-year head coach and losing several members from the previous year would necessitate a rebuilding season, but not for the IU women’s club soccer team. \n“We wanted to make it to nationals,” said Lynne Raymond, senior and \nclub president. \nThis was a goal the team had not accomplished since Raymond’s freshman year, when the team played in the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association soccer tournament in Austin, Texas. \nThe team, which plays in the West Division of the Women’s Midwest Alliance Soccer Conference, finished the season at 5-4-1, with wins against Illinois, Western Illinois, Illinois State, Toledo and Butler. Their division includes Illinois, Purdue, Ball State, Western Illinois and Butler.\nIU’s club team consists of about 20 women, most of whom have experience playing on travel teams or high-school soccer \nprograms.\nGoing into the regional tournament Oct. 27 and 28 in Bloomington, the club was shorthanded by women participating in other activities that weekend, adding another obstacle for the Hoosiers.\nThe team tied Michigan before ending its season with a loss against University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, finishing 12th out of 26 teams in the conference. \nEarlier in the season, the team stopped Michigan from getting an automatic bid to the national tournament by being the first team to score a goal against the Wolverines. \nThis year, the team came up short of its goal to compete in the national tournament, but overcame many challenges.\n“I was very proud of what we were able to do this year,” said Bennett Dilly, senior and first-year coach of the team. “We stuck together and were very tough on and off the field.”\nFor many team members, this year was about coming together and forming a new bond. \n“This was a great way to meet new people,” said Kirsti Nielsen, freshman and team goalie.\nRaymond also shared similar sentiments reflecting on her years with the group. \n“Some of the friends I made are some of my very best friends,” she said. \nVery few spectators come to club soccer events, something the team would like to see change in the future. \n“Our games are a great time, and everybody should come watch,” Raymond said. \nThis year, other than playing soccer, the team reached out and sponsored an IU Dance Marathon family. The team made it possible for a high school boy with leukemia and his family to come from Riley Children’s Hospital and attend this year’s dance marathon.\n“We are influential as an IU organization and can be inspiring to other people, and reflect positively on the school,” Raymond said.\nDespite the on-field struggles, the team considered this year a positive one. \n“Everyone stepped up, played tough and came together,” said junior and team secretary Caitlin Regan.