Tigers both humbled and poised for breakout season

MITCHELL, S.D. – Despite all the makings for a breakout year, a sense of gratitude and thankfulness overshadows the Dakota Wesleyan University women's soccer team entering the culmination of the 2020 season. However, with a strong nucleus of experience and leadership returning to the pitch, the Tigers look to boast a spot in the Great Plains Athletic Conference Tournament.

 "I speak for myself and the whole team in expressing how grateful we are for the opportunity to play this season while so many teams and conferences in the area will not have the same fortune this fall," iterated head coach Clay Glasgow. "I am thankful for the hard work and countless hours spent by GPAC commissioner Corey Westra, University President Amy Novak and Athletic Director Jon Hart ultimately piloting us to a season this fall. Right now, our goal is to take a deep breath, play soccer and have fun."

 Although struck with a sense of humbleness, the seventh-year head coach may boast his most-talented and experienced roster yet as the Tigers return 10 players who saw action in at least nine or more games during 2019. That alone should cause Dakota Wesleyan to take a step back and exhale with much excitement and optimism.

 DWU's 24-player roster figures to be an electric group on the pitch this season crammed with a plethora of talent as the team showcases 13 veterans and 11 newcomers who hail from eight different states. Key returners this fall will include the explosive offensive duo of Josephine Bardsley (Tea, S.D.) and Alyssa Weidler (Sioux Falls, S.D.) who will play pivotal roles for the Tigers.

 Bardsley, a junior midfielder, was a 2019 All-GPAC Second Team selection for the Tigers after posting a phenomenal sophomore season tallying nine goals and averaging 0.64 goals per contest. Her best game last fall came against NCAA Division II opponent Black Hills State University where she notched two goals on four shots along with one assist. Weidler, Bardsley's counterpart, returns to the pitch for her redshirt-senior year after experiencing a heartbreaking season-ending injury a year ago and currently sits just nine goals away from tying the all-time career goals scored in DWU women's soccer history. In 2018, the Sioux Falls native led the conference with 0.94 goals per game and was tied for first in the GPAC with 16 goals.

"I can only imagine how excited Alyssa is to be back, and I am so excited to see her out on the pitch once again," commented Glasgow on Weidler's return. "We will be looking to her a lot this year and we are seeing a lot of offensive production from Alyssa so far."

 Other players that will add experience and leadership for the Tigers include upperclassmen Hannah Bowes (Omaha, Neb.), Kindra Clark (Garretson, S.D.), Megan Hertzog (Salinas, Calif.), Courtney Mascarenas (Pueblo, Colo.), Alondra Partida (Salinas, Calif.) and Kassidy Johnson (Hartford, S.D.). Bowes enters the season as the projected netminder after ranking second in the GPAC with 117 saves last fall. Fellow senior teammate, Clark, will serve as the team captain after starting in all 16 games in 2019. Clark's counterpart at the forward position, redshirt-junior forward Johnson, also returns to the pitch after a season-ending injury in 2019 following eight appearances in 2018.

 Much of the season will come down to whether or not the Tigers can finally make it over the hump and reach the GPAC tournament after missing out in 2018 by a single game and experiencing a dip in wins last fall. One reason for the decline in success may be the fact that the Tigers conceded 47 goals in 2019 compared to just 32 in 2018.

 "Our roster size has definitely increased, so if we can just remain healthy this year, I believe we will surprise a lot of teams, especially defensively," expressed Glasgow. "Defensively, we must make a better effort of transitioning from offense to defense. As a team we must possess an attitude of the whole team is constantly defending, not just our defensive players."

 Depth should not be an issue this season as DWU welcomes in 11 newcomers as part of a very talented 2020 incoming class. While Glasgow indicated that everyone is contributing nicely so far and has been a great edition to the program, three fresh faces who look to have an immediate impact include Kazia Ohayon (Hartford, S.D.), Hannah Dalebout (Roy, Utah) and Jade Wesley (Sioux Falls, S.D.).

 Ohayon is a freshman transfer from Arizona State University who posted a phenomenal four-year career at Hartford High School where she was an All-State First Team selection for the Trojans. Dalebout will be another transfer pursuing a pivotal role for the Tigers proceeding her time at Sheridan College. Lastly, Wesley enters her freshman campaign after graduating from Sioux Falls Roosevelt High School where she was named Defensive Player of the Year and the Team's Most Valuable Player in her final season.

 Time will only tell if the Tigers can hit paydirt this fall as the 2020 season features a 14-match slate showcasing eight home games at the Pepsi-Cola Sports Complex in Mitchell. After a home, season opener against Presentation College in a non-conference bout on Sept. 6 at 1 p.m., the Tigers will kick-off conference play on Saturday, Sept. 19 against Hastings College at 1 p.m. The regular season will conclude versus Morningside College on Saturday, Oct. 31 at 4:30 p.m.

 There is no doubt that many challenges and milestones await the Tigers this season. Nevertheless, through a game-by-game approach on the shoulders of an abundance of weathered, talented veterans and assisted by a rich culture of family and hard work, Dakota Wesleyan is prepared to make 2020 another exciting season.

 "Ultimately, here at Dakota Wesleyan I feel very confident in the culture we have instilled in the program," Glasgow said. "We strive on the word family and there is a high expectation for our players to perform well on the pitch, in the classroom and in the community."