Soccer is back in action.
The Colorado Mesa University women’s soccer squad has become more dangerous this offense as they added 14 new women to the roster. The team will also feature a new but familiar face at the helm as former Assistant Coach Dani Thurman became the new head coach.
“All the new players that we have, we had to bring in some depth for this season,” Dani Thurman said. “Since I had the spring to work with a lot of the veteran players, just having them as basically mini-coaches, just trying to implement them into what we are trying to do.”
The 14 new athletes CMU added to the roster over the offseason has helped establish this will be a new-look Mavericks soccer team.
“We can use all the numbers that we have in the newbies as you know secret weapons because nobody knows anything about the 14 new faces that we are bringing in,” Thurman said. “I think that they are our secret weapon for us going into this season.”
Although the team has gotten many newcomers, the veterans on the team are ready to step up to the plate and take the rookies under their wings but also get the work done on the field so that a playoff spot is possible in their future.
“I expect that we will make it to the RMAC’s this season,” Thurman said. “I think that, as a coaching staff, we are doing everything that we can to set the team up for success in a short amount of time with this talented group. I believe if they apply everything that we have taught them we can make it to the postseason.”
The addition of Todd Padgett as the Director of Soccer Operations will carry the hope of elevating the women’s soccer program to the relevance they have the capability of being. Padgett has led the men’s team to numerous RMAC Championships and NCAA Tournament appearances.
Senior midfielder Alexis Allard looks to help lead the team in her last year at CMU and to hopefully get the team to the postseason. Allard did her part last season by scoring three goals over the course of the 17 games.
Another veteran that the team will look at to help guide the team is Ryanne Parker. Parker led the team with four goals and 11 points in 2018 and is expected to continue her role as the prominent scorer.
“I think they are natural leaders by example,” Thurman said. “They have great during training and in games, so they are good for the new players to just looking to as an example of what we want. They both have stronger voices as well and demand a lot out of everybody on the team. I expect them to contribute a lot on the field for us but be leaders at training and everywhere else.”
The Mavericks kick off the season on Sept 5 against Texas-Permian Basin in Odessa, TX. Their first home game of the year will be Sept. 8 against RMAC foe Western Colorado University.
