Soccer fans across Mobile County have plenty to watch for this fall as several local college programs open their seasons with postseason ambitions. From a nationally ranked Spring Hill College men’s squad to rebuilding efforts at Spring Hill women’s and the University of South Alabama, the region’s college soccer landscape is shaping up to be one of its most competitive in years.
The Spring Hill College men’s team enters the season riding high after a historic 2018 campaign. The Badgers went a perfect 11-0 in Gulf South Conference play and advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs for the first time in program history, finishing with a 17-2 overall record. They open this year ranked No. 20 in the United Soccer Coaches national poll, though they were picked to finish second behind the University of West Florida in the conference’s preseason coaches’ poll.
Head coach Steve Wieczorek said his roster returns significant experience while adding promising newcomers. Senior forward Alex Lipinski, a United Soccer Coaches All-America selection who ranked fifth in NCAA Division II in goals scored last season, headlines the preseason all-conference squad alongside junior defender Matthew Moreno, who recorded six assists and five goals a year ago. Other returning contributors include goalkeepers Alessandro Erdelyi and Barou Ndaw, defender Vassil Kokali, midfielders Konstantinos Varesis and Sacha Ducreux, and forward Zach Witt, while newcomers Robin Stoffels, Joao Amaral and Denis Agayi are expected to see early playing time.
On the women’s side, Spring Hill is looking to build on a difficult 1-14-1 season with a roster leaning heavily on returning players. Interim head coach Emily Marcouiller said the team’s preseason intensity has been a bright spot heading into the year. Goalkeeper Hannah Fluharty anchors a defense that includes Sabrina Cruz, Kylee Harrell, Kylie Long and Abby Lollar, while Olivia Hall will see time at both defender and midfielder. Meggie van den Oever, Sidney Spivey and forward Olivia Odimegwu round out the returning attack, and freshmen Carson Reeves and Morgan Spivey were both named to the Gulf South Conference’s Newcomers Team.
The University of South Alabama women’s program is looking to reclaim its footing after its run of four straight Sun Belt Conference titles and five consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances ended last season with an 8-9-2 finish. Head coach Richard Moodie said the competition for starting spots remains wide open as the Jaguars search for consistent scoring. Sophomore midfielder Brenna McPartlan, last year’s Sun Belt Freshman of the Year, returns as the team’s leader in goals, assists and points after being named to the preseason all-conference team. Senior goalkeeper Justice Stanford, who ranks among the program’s career leaders in shutouts, goals against average and save percentage, and senior forward Briana Morris, already named the Sun Belt’s first Player of the Week honoree of 2019, give the Jaguars a strong veteran core. South Alabama was picked to finish second in the conference’s preseason poll behind defending champion Texas State.
Across town, the University of Mobile’s programs are looking to climb the Southern States Athletic Conference standings after both the men’s and women’s teams were picked to finish third, behind defending NAIA national champion William Carey University. The Rams women, who finished 12-8 a year ago, return senior defender Heidi Giles, who earned first-team all-conference honors, NAIA All-American honorable mention recognition and the conference’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year award while maintaining a 4.0 grade point average in business accounting. Sisters Cheyne Bush, a second-team all-conference forward who led the team in scoring, and midfielder Abigail Bush also return, along with all-freshman team honoree Madia Soderburg. Head coach Brian Person, entering his 13th season, said depth will be key to the Rams developing into a complete team this fall.
The Mobile men’s team, coming off a 14-5 season, returns first-team all-conference forward Victor Pimentel, who scored 10 goals and led the Rams with six assists last year, along with second-team honoree Ronaldo Fortune, the team’s leading scorer with 11 goals. Head coach Daniel Whelan said the program graduated several longtime contributors but is looking forward to rebuilding around a talented group of returning players.
In other regional sports news, former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf is scheduled to speak in Daphne as part of a fundraiser for the Baldwin County Drug Court Foundation. The nonprofit’s 10th annual “Remember, You Can Make a Difference” event is set for Tuesday, Sept. 10, at 6 p.m. at the Daphne Civic Center on U.S. 90. Organizers say Leaf plans to discuss the pressures of playing in the NFL and the personal struggles that contributed to the end of his career. Tickets are available online at baldwindrugcourt.com or through Raina Macks at auburnt@hotmail.com.