IUC women look for progress in Year 2

After leading the IU Columbus men’s soccer team in its inaugural season last fall, Kevin Nolan has added the role of coaching the Crimson Pride women’s soccer team.

So this spring, when teams were able to practice, Nolan often had his women’s squad square off against the men. He was pleased with what he saw from the women’s side.

“The girls trained all spring with the guys,” Nolan said. “There were some days they were neck-and-neck with them, and there were some days they were like, ‘What are we doing out here with the guys?’ But they were very passionate, and they put in a good shift every practice and they got a lot better very quickly playing the the guys. They got stronger. They got smarter on the ball. I think they got a little bit tougher.”

And Nolan thinks the women pick things up a little easier than their male counterparts.

“Tactically, they get things quicker,” Nolan said. “I give them one or two things we implement to our system, and they get it just like that. Guys may take a little bit longer. These girls are very smart, and they’re very eager and hungry to be successful, and that’s all I can ask for.

“I got to work with them a lot in the spring and really got to see how tough they were playing with the guys,” he added. “So I’m not really worried about their toughness at all. I know they’re going to come in and put everything they have on the table for us every game, and they want to win. They’re hungry. They saw the success with the guys, and I think they want that, too.”

IUC returns seven players, led by leading goal scorer Lily Campbell, a sophomore from Salem. Campbell, who scored four goals, is the only returning player to score last season.

Campbell and midfielder Sophie Parker (junior, Shelbyville) are the team’s captains.

“(Nolan is) very passionate about the game, just like I am, so we might butt heads sometimes, but we’re in it together, and I’m ready to play for him,” Parker said. “Another thing about Kevin and our coaching staff is, even though we don’t have the numbers we wanted — we only have 17, and that’s about where we were at last year — they work so hard to try get players, go see everybody. I know he’s been to several showcases, some out of state. He’s worked so hard, and he got married a month ago, so he’s had a bunch on his plate.”

The other returners are midfielders Hannah Grimes (senior, Columbus North) and Dani Bulach (sophomore, Franklin County), defender Maddie Merritt (sophomore, Franklin County and goalkeepers Ana Jackson (senior, Twin Lakes) and Mallory Gilley (sophomore, Columbus North).

Among the newcomers is Cyanne St. Bernard (freshman, Shelbyville), who played with the Columbus Express Soccer Club.

The Crimson Pride will look to improve on a 2-12 record, including a 1-9 mark in the River States Conference. They open the season at 4:30 p.m. Saturday against Spalding in the first game of a women’s-men’s doubleheader at Richard Wigh Soccer Complex.

“Year 2, the word is, ‘Progress,’” IUC athletics director Zach McClellan said. “We won two games last year. We were in several other games. So hopefully, we can make the progress we’re looking for and start making an impact on the conference this year. That’s our goal.”

The 2024 IUC women’s soccer schedule:

Saturday vs. Spalding, 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday vs. Cincinnati-Clermont, 4:30 p.m.

Aug. 30 vs. Manchester, 7 p.m.

Sept. 1 at Freed-Hardeman, 12:30 p.m.

Sept. 7 at IU South Bend, 6 p.m.

Sept. 11 vs. St. Francis, 2 p.m.

Sept. 15 at Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis, 2 p.m.

Sept. 17 vs. Cumberland, 3 p.m.

Sept. 23 vs. Georgetown, 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 26 vs. West Virginia Tech, 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 30 vs. Ohio Christian, 4:30 p.m.

Oct. 3 at Brescia, 4 p.m.

Oct. 5 vs. Midway, 4:30 p.m.

Oct. 10 vs. Rio Grande, 4:30 p.m.

Oct. 12 vs. IU East, 4:30 p.m.

Oct. 17 at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, 1 p.m.

Oct. 19 at Oakland City, 1 p.m.

Oct. 24 at Shawneee Stae, 5 p.m.

Oct. 31 at IU Kokomo, 7 p.m.