2024 Women's Soccer Season Preview
Providence Christian women's soccer team is excited to start this 2024 season and continue to build upon the foundation developed the previous two years. Head Coach Todd Elkins and Associate Head Coach Erin Brunelle are prepared to have incredible success with a solid core of players returning and stellar new recruits joining the team.
Senior Janelle Lopez and junior Isabella Pecunes will lead our Lady Sea Beggars this season as team captains. Janelle is the only senior on the women's soccer team who has attended Providence since her freshman year and has served as a captain for the previous two seasons. Janelle personifies hard work and dedication, and she doesn't expect more from her teammates than she expects and demands from herself. When asked about what she was looking forward to in her last year as a Sea Beggar, Janelle answered, "My time as a captain and player is coming to an end. This season will be my last, which brings on a lot of excitement and the hope of ending on a high note. In my last season, my main focus is to make this team one. Every girl comes with their own strengths. But, when we come together, we can be at the top of our game." First year captain, Isabella Pecunes, can make a big impact on both sides of the ball and will be sure to create problems for opponents wherever she finds herself on the field. When asked about what she is looking forward to this season and what the Providence community should expect to see this year, Isabella said, "I'm personally looking forward to scoring goals and having fun with my teammates! I expect our Providence community to see the dedication we have as players to this sport and how much fun we have playing it. It's inevitable to have practices and games where we aren't giving it our all, but I want people to notice that regardless of the awful days, we love this sport and we love our teammates."
Coach Elkins added ten recruits to his returning roster, and each student-athlete will be a crucial piece of the puzzle, impacting the team in various ways. Senior Paula Gallardo Villanueva and junior Kassandra Ramirez both have immense experience and will bring leadership and competitive spirit to the team. Paula is a strong player in the midfield who has amazing composure, strength, and vision. Her ability to attack at any moment will give the team a boost in our goal scoring opportunities. Paula's tenacity will motivate her teammates to never quit and to continue to work hard throughout the season. Kassandra is a very talented goalkeeper and brings an immense amount of competitiveness to the team. A solid goalkeeper is essential to having any chance at success against top competition, and Kassandra is ready to prove something.
Alyssa Acuna returns to Providence for her senior season, looking to be a huge threat up top and increase offensive plays for our Lady Sea Beggars. Senior Alexandra Meza and sophomore Natalie Zamora will anchor the middle of the field and look to put constant pressure on opponents. Junior Isabella Henao prepares to make a bigger difference on the field with her high level of athleticism, and ability to possess and create an attack from the back. Sophomore Sutton Denny will continue to make an immediate impact and look to cause havoc on the offensive side. Sophomore Riley Cervantes and Georgia Hoogstra seek to hold down the back line. With a very talented roster and various styles of play, our Lady Beggars hope to utilize each other's strengths and seek to get better together every day.
When asked about the upcoming season, Coach Elkins replied, "As we head into our third season of our program rebuild, there is a sense of tangible growth and upward momentum. With a roster size of 20 players, it feels like a 'full team' for the first time since I've been here at Providence. I don't know if this growth in size will translate into more wins, but I do know that we are now a more complete and well-rounded team." Coach Elkins added, "Our returners step back onto the pitch and the halls of Providence as seasoned veterans ready to lead and serve the team and the college. Our new players are literally bringing new life to the squad and campus life."
Our co-captains urge all of you to come out to their games and support your friends, classmates, and roommates. The next home game is tomorrow August 30th, at 10 a.m. as the Lady Sea Beggars host St. Mary's College (IN) at Villa Parke Field. Be sure to come out and cheer them on to victory!