By Chandler Britton/ The Howard Payne University Women’s Soccer team made their way to Seattle last weekend to start off the 2023-2024 season.
Head Women’s Soccer Coach Brandon Badgley said he has many goals for his eighth season with the HPU Women’s Soccer team.
“We want to keep continuing to build the culture and chemistry within the program,” Badgely said. “On the field, we want to be able to compete in every game that we are in. Playoffs is always the goal.”
Last year, the team’s record was 6-9-2. Badgely said they are working hard to improve this year.
“We have changed our systems to fit our athletes better with the incoming class that we have coming in,” Badgely said. “We have a very large incoming class that brought a lot of quality so that will help out a lot. We have a lot of leadership and experience from our junior and senior class. Overall, it’s put together well. The freshmen are a great asset to the team.”
The team had two big games in Washington that they had been working towards. They played Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash. Then they got on the road and traveled to Spokane, Wash. where they matched up with Whitworth University.
The team also got to spend a day in Seattle where they had a lot of bonding time together. Badgley said she was excited to get the team out of their comfort zones and play a team outside of their district.
Senior and Women’s Soccer Captain Emily McClendon was excited to talk about the 17 new additions to the team.
“I feel like this group brings a bunch of new energy to the team and they all want the same thing which is to play, compete, win and have a family atmosphere,” McClendon said. “Something we have started this year is a big and little program, where an upperclassman matches with a lowerclassman. Since we started this, I feel we have created intentional, closer bonds.”
She added that the biggest addition to the soccer program is the new lights that were added to the soccer field. She emphasized how exciting this addition has been for her and the team. She also added that the team has changed their formation.
Photo of Chandler Britton, Yellow Jacket staff writer