PREVIEW: Expectations high after 2017 title match

The USU Eastern women’s soccer program is entering its fifth year competing as an NJCAA team this Fall and excitement is building for the upcoming season.
Coming off an appearance in the Region XVIII championship game, the expectations are high for the Eagles in 2018.
The Eagles return a lot of talented players who Head Coach Ammon Bennett believes will help his team return to the title game again.
“This is a deep returning group for us that played a lot of significant minutes last year that have great attitudes,” said Bennett.
Bennett returns his top goal scorers, assist leader and a few girls that contributed but were hurt down the stretch last season to this year’s team.
Defensively, the Eagles return All-Conference performers Anna Towne and Ellie Putnam.
In 2017 Putnam and Towne both contributed to a defense that some would say was the strength of last year’s team.
“They are both very good at seeing the whole field and making sure everyone is in their position. They are also very good at communicating, which is a big key to being successful,” said USU Eastern sophomore forward Morgan Hall.
In addition to Putnam and Towne, sophomores McKenna Wiscombe, Cami Gleason, and Sylvie Call return to the program in 2018.
Hall also returns for the Eagles and is expected to be a major part of the offense and success of the team.
“She is a great player and I think she will have a big year this season if she can pull the trigger and score some goals for us,” said Bennett.
Bennett also said that he is expecting returning players Gabrielle Sainsbury and Alyssa Spillett to continue to improve and contribute this season. Both players made big strides in the Spring and offseason according to Bennett.
Although the group of returning players is deep and talented, Bennett still says there is work to do to take on their tough schedule in 2018.  
One of the first things Bennett will be focusing on in Fall practices is the competition for the starting goalkeeper position.
That position is left open after the graduation of star keeper and two-year starter Shyann Jones.
Maya Massey, Hadley Harvey and Brianna Watkins will each enter Fall practices with an opportunity to prove themselves as the next keeper for the women’s team.
Another big objective of the early Fall practices will be the cohesiveness of the team and building chemistry.
“We need to build on to the success that we had last year. We know what it takes,” Hall said. “Most importantly we need to come together and play as a team. It takes everyone, everyone plays a big role.”
Bennett echoes Hall’s belief that it takes everyone, he said that it will take the whole team and making necessary adjustments to be successful this season.
“It will take all 25 players to buy into the program to achieve our goals this season,” said Bennett.
The road to the Region XVIII championship will begin on August 6 with practices.
The Eagles will open their conference schedule with a pair of home matches against the College of Southern Nevada.