WSOC SEASON PREVIEW: Yellow Jackets return to the pitch on Saturday night
DEFIANCE, Ohio – Defiance College women's soccer kicks off the program's 30th season on Saturday night with a visit to Fort Wayne against the Saint Francis Cougars.
Season Outlook
Entering the team's second season under head coach Isabelle Danner, the Yellow Jackets are looking to grow after a 2-12-2 campaign a year ago. The team had a solid start to the campaign with wins in the first two games and held a 2-2-2 record just before conference play began.
Turning the page to year two, Coach Danner feels the 2024 edition is energized, committed, and growth-minded. "When you have a group of players who are excited to be here, committed to growing this program and growing themselves on and off the field, you can do a lot with that kind of team," says Danner.
About the Team
The composition of the team will look different with the departure of nine graduating seniors. Among six starters in need of replacement, the Yellow Jackets will be without three-year keeper Sarah O'Shea. O'Shea was All-HCAC three times in her career and finished third in program history with 433 saves. Another key loss is leading scorer Hallie Webb, who was tied for the team lead with four goals scored last season and had a team-high 11 points. Two of Defiance's other top three scorers are back in purple and gold for 2024. Lexi Coward matched Webb's four goals from last year as the senior will be joined by Haley Hughes as the top returning scoring threats after adding three goals as a freshman. Defensively, junior McKenna Walker (2023 Honorable Mention All-HCAC) and senior Jocelyn Peterson will provide experience on the back line for Coach Danner. As for the incoming recruiting class, a mixture of transfers and freshmen have already delivered an energizing presence to the team. Reagan Camp brings a six-foot presence at forward as a transfer from Casper College in Wyoming paired with defensive experience from junior transfer Chloe Kern who comes to DC from Ohio Christian. Creedance Chittenden also comes in as a two-sport commit to women's soccer and basketball.
As for local athletes, Coward (Findlay), Peterson (Cory-Rawson), Walker (Springfield), and Hughes (Maumee) welcome fellow 419 recruits in Destiny Pier (Continental), Kern (Eastwood), and Kiah Hefner (Ada).
Conference Outlook
Entering the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference in 2024, DC women's soccer has faced just three conference mates in the past with Indiana Tech being the most recent in 2019. The WHAC preseason coaches poll favored Aquinas to repeat as conference champions for a fifth straight year. The Saints went 17-1-4 overall and 9-0-2 in conference play and their only loss was in the quarterfinals of the NAIA National Championship. UNOH ranked second after capturing the WHAC Tournament title last fall, followed by Siena Heights in third after sharing the regular season title with Aquinas. The Yellow Jackets ranked 13th at the outset of the year as the unknown newcomer to the league.
One advantage about coming into the new league for Coach Danner, who will be assisted by Stephen Jenkins, is the familiarity with the conference. Danner witnessed the high-caliber play of the WHAC as a player and assistant coach at Trinity International. The coaching staff firmly grasps the competition level and is geared up to keep building a lasting foundation by competing and growing in every match.
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