After finishing last season with a winning 10-9-1 record, the women’s soccer team has spent their summer working on improving their skills for the upcoming fall. They have added 14 freshmen to their roster with hopes that the new additions will compliment all of the returning talent.

Junior forward Emma Wetzel puts emphasis on their successful offseason training when predicting how high the fall energy will be.

“We really tried to develop on the ideas and intensity that was established last fall. We just got out of a very positive preseason. It was great combining the team we had in the spring with the new freshmen,” Wetzel said. “I believe that we are setting up a solid foundation, not only for this season, but seasons to come.”

Head coach Davy Phillips, who joined the program in the middle of last season, also has high expectations about a familiar process. He instills philosophies as a foundation for success.

“Attention to details and putting in a couple wrinkles that will help unbalance defenses. More specific detailed information is being used compared to last year’s big picture focus on how we want to play,” Phillips said.

Both Phillips and Wetzel agree that the team has high hopes to improve on their sixth place finish from last year while also working toward qualifying for the conference championship later in the year.

“The strength of our team comes from the fact that we depend on all of them. Certain players are asked to carry more responsibility within our playing style. It’s a good group, a good mix of experienced kids who should carry some of that burden as well as some really dynamic freshmen,” Phillips said.

Tera Lynch, sophomore, Paige Swanson, senior, Olivia Grasso, junior, Ellie Karloff, senior, Mackenzie Heiman, senior, Cassidy Meadows, senior and Jenna Shortridge, sophomore, have all been described as big names to watch out for on the field this season.

The Ichabods will have their season openerat 4:30 p.m. Aug. 31 in Fayette, Iowa against Southwest Minnesota State University.