The women’s soccer program at Salt Lake Community College made a successful debut in its inaugural season.
The Bruins ended the season with a record of 9-5-1 (6-5-1 Scenic West Athletic Conference). Although SLCC lost 3-2 in the Region 18 championship game against Snow College, the Bruins were able to grind out a 1-0 upset over Utah State University-Eastern in the semifinal round. Making the championship game in the inaugural season was a major accomplishment for the team and head coach Mark Davis wants to continue building an even more successful program going forward.
“I want to focus on making this the best team ever for our players,” Davis says. “We want to build our culture.”
With half of the roster from 2016 returning for the 2017 campaign, Coach Davis expects another team that’s tough and stubborn defensively.
“We should be leading in all defensive categories,” he says.
The Bruins played smothering defense, posting shutouts in seven of their nine regular-season victories. Davis wants the team to be ready to come out “sharper defensively” than last season.
Sophomore Alletse Soto looks to carry over her relentless play from last season.
“[Soto] is consistent, she comes out and works hard every day. You know what you’ll get from her day in and day out,” Davis says.
Assistant Athletic Director Paul Marble expects a team that will continue to play stifling defense throughout the entire upcoming season.
“We’ll come out and stop teams from scoring and put the ball in the net ourselves,” he says.
One thing both Davis and Marble agreed on is the importance of building a winning environment. This season will continue to help lay down that sturdy foundation for the future.
“We’re constructing a championship culture here,” Marble says.
The team’s success in year one is a promising sign of the future for the SLCC women’s soccer program. Davis and his coaching staff have assembled a new team of adept players who are ready to don the blue and white uniform.
SLCC finished their final scrimmage earlier this week and will start the 2017 regular season against Western Wyoming on Tuesday, Aug. 29. Visit the SLCC Bruins website for tickets and other information.
