ECC Women’s Soccer Season in Full Swing

By Jace Stroup Staff Writer

Soccer season here at East Central College is underway, and the women’s soccer team has come into this year ready to compete. The Lady Falcons began their season in late August with a trip to Iowa to face off against Scott Community College where they came out victorious with a 4-0 win. After their trip they returned for a couple of home games where they were not as fortunate and dropped to a 1-2 overall record, however there is still much optimism about what this group will be able to accomplish.

Speaking to women’s soccer team head coach Joseph Benninger, he had much to share including the team’s goals for this season, on and off the field, as well as the opportunity to build into the future with a talented group of young women. On team goals for this season Benninger said, “Every season our biggest goal is to win the Region 16 Championship. Our second goal is to improve the student athletes on and off the field. On the field we want to give them the training and structure to reach their full potential as an athlete. Off the field and in the classroom, we want to give the students the tools to open up opportunities and pathways. Our goal is to give them the opportunity to be successful in the future.” With this commitment to personal growth on and off the field, Benninger and the team will no doubt find success.

Although the team unfortunately missed out on a couple of international recruits over the summer Coach Benninger expresses his optimism for this season saying, “We are still very excited about the group we have and will press on to give them the strongest season we can.” He also cites the potential of the young roster as he says, “We have a strong freshman class that we will continue to work with and look to build around for next year.  Overall, this is a talented group. Although the results have not been there early in the season they will continue to grow and get stronger.” There seems to be great optimism around women’s soccer at ECC and potential for now and the future.