CSM Women’s Soccer Team ‘Battled Incredibly Hard,’ Coach Says

Jazmin Summers
CSM Hawk Jazmin Summers clears the ball out after making a save.

Lady Hawks Finish Season With 3-6-1 Record

 

Jazmin Summers
CSM Hawk Jazmin Summers clears the ball out after making a save.

The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) Women’s Soccer Team ended their 2017-18 regular season (3-6-1) with three wins, seven losses and one tie.

Head Coach Barry McGrellis commended the team for its outstanding effort. “Under difficult circumstances in terms of roster size and player availability, the players who could play gave an outstanding account of themselves,” McGrellis said. “We very often had no substitutes due to injury or schedule conflicts, and the starting players really demonstrated toughness and battled incredibly hard.”

“Our women’s soccer team played like warriors under difficult circumstances, and we are very proud of their efforts,” said CSM Director of Student Life and Athletics Michelle Ruble.

The team’s win over Montgomery College on Sept. 22 was a high point, McGrellis said. “The best part of the season was our 2-1 win over perennial powerhouse Montgomery, in double overtime, with only 11 players. That game really embodied the fighting spirit the players showed all season long.”

This year’s roster included Jazmin Summers, Sarah Yow, Heather Julian, Lindsey Larsen, Brenna Kelly, Rianna Neiser, Kaitlynn Lewis, Elizabeth Schwenk, Abigail Castillo, Taya Stith, Alexis Chase, Ciara Farr, Leslie Gomez, Kelsea Burgess and Kaylee Schmitt.

McGrellis called out two players for excellent performance. “Jazmin Summers, our captain and goalkeeper, really excelled in goal this year. Having her as our last line of defense breeds confidence throughout the entire team and she led the conference in saves this season. Another of our sophomores, Elizabeth Schwenk, really put the offense on her back this year and made the creation and scoring of goals her responsibility, she almost never left the field,” he said.

Freshmen made up more than half of the team, and the coach commended them for rising to the occasion. “Our whole freshman class, experiencing college soccer for the first time, were thrown in at the deep end and asked to play a major role this year, and all responded incredibly well,” McGrellis said. “That group will provide us with an excellent foundation for next year.”

This was McGrellis’ second year as head coach. Assistant coaches were Simon French and Nina Duron.

For information on women’s soccer at CSM, along with season statistics, visit http://athletics.csmd.edu/sports/wsoc/index.