Due West, S.C. – The Erskine Women's Soccer Team (3-12-1, 3-8) looks to put last season behind them after losing their final nine games and failing to qualify for the conference tournament for the first time since 2007.
The Flying Fleet will need to improve offensively to reverse last year's season-ending slide. The Fleet were held scoreless in eight of their sixteen games with six shutouts occurring during the nine game losing skid. Thankfully the Fleet return their leading scorer in sophomore Hayley Rogers (West Columbia, SC, Lexington High School), who tallied five goals and one assist in her freshman campaign.
Erskine also returns a strong core in the midfield with juniors Rachel Mitchell (Griffin, GA, Pike County High School) and Ashley Reeves (Zebulon, GA, Pike County High School) The two combined to contribute three goals and two assists while playing excellent defense.
On a bright side, the Fleet defense limited their opponents to two or fewer goals in eleven of their games. Sophomore Jennifer Deppen (Martinez, GA, Evans High School) had an excellent year, playing in all sixteen games and starting in fourteen of them, and will anchor the back row. Junior Mekenzie Carpenter (Anderson, SC, T.L. Hanna High School), who played primarily midfield until late last season, seems to have found a home at the back position while junior Molly Sexton (Williamson, GA, Pike County High School) returns to her defender position after missing last season due to an injury. The Fleet also return an experienced goalkeeper in sophomore Ashton Burgess (Greenwood, SC, Emerald High School).
With the loss of six seniors, including five starters, there will be plenty of competition in camp for the open positions. After the first week of preseason practice, several new players have made an early impression with Head Coach Gary Winchester. Offensively, Coach Winchester has been impressed with transfersKatherine Coleman (Martinez, GA, Lakeside High School) and Tegan Van Rijn (South Windsor, Australia) and freshman Taylor Bush (Hilton Head Island, SC, Hilton Head High School) up top. These three players, along with Rogers, should bolster the Fleet attack. Meanwhile, freshmen Kaye Henton (Bedford, England) and Victoria Johnston (Hilton Head Island, SC, Hilton Head High School) have played very well early on at midfield and freshman Lucy Jeffs (Bordon, England) will strengthen an already strong back line. Freshman Alex Vinson (Hilton Head Island, SC, Hilton Head High School) has also played well at both midfield and back, giving Coach Winchester some versatility to his lineup.
In the recent Conference Carolinas Preseason Coaches' Poll, the Flying Fleet were voted to finish in 8th place. Belmont Abbey, the defending Conference Carolinas Tournament Champions, was picked to finish first while Lees-McRae College, last year's regular season champion, was selected second.
Erskine opens their season on the road on Thursday, September 5th against Southern Wesleyan University. Kick-off is set for 7:00 p.m. Their home-opener is set for September 16th against archrival Anderson University.
Erskine Team Roster
Erskine Schedule
