Women’s Soccer
Virginia Wesleyan University Women’s Soccer was selected third in the preseason coaches poll by ODAC. They were selected with 119 points prior to the start of the 2021 season.
The team is looking forward to this 2021 season after a challenging year where their games were shortened due to the pandemic. The first game of the 2021 season, which was scheduled to be against Dickinson College, was canceled due to Tropical Storm Ida. They faced the Cardinals of Catholic University to open the season, but the team fell to the Cardinals losing 2-1. As for now, the Marlins hold a record of 1-2 to start out the season.
The Marlins continue their season at home as they take on the Eagles of University of Washington on Sept. 18 at 2:00 pm.
Volleyball
With a record of 12-2, the Volleyball team was selected second by ODAC preseason coaches poll, sharing the same spot next to the Yellow Jackets of Randolph-Macon. The team ended with 106 points with a season that consisted of 30 games and 12 ODAC game conferences.
Libero and defensive specialist Cara Caruso expressed that the team has worked extremely hard for this season. “We have had nothing short of a two and a half hour practice in attempts to prepare for our competitive schedule,” Caruso said. “I am expecting to see a lot of healthy competition both within and against the team. The team is getting along super well and we are having high intensity, competitive practices.” After acquiring Karissa Cumberbatch as the new head coach of the program, the Volleyball team seems already locked-in, since they have won 6 games so far this season.
The team continues their season as they travel to the University of Lynchburg on Sept. 18 at 1:00 p.m. to face the Hornets of Lynchburg and the Cougars of Averett University in a double header.
Men’s Soccer
Last season, the Men’s Soccer team finished with a record of one win, five losses and two tied games overall. The team is looking forward to their upcoming season, like many athletic programs, after a rough and challenging last season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
After playing a decent 2020-2021 season, the Men’s Soccer team is ranked eighth in the 2021 ODAC Men’s Soccer preseason coaches poll. The Marlins started their 2021 season off at a high with a 2-0 record beating both the Knights of Southern Virginia University and the Knights of Neumann University.
Junior Jaron Berry, a forward for the Men’s Soccer team had comments to say about the vision for the team this season. “As a team, we have a bunch of goals, we want to win an ODAC championship, but we’ve got to take it day-by-day and we all know that to start off the season 2-0 is really big for us so we’re really excited to see how the season goes,” Berry said. “We’re taking one game at a time and we just want to come out and play the best game we can play.”
The Men’s Soccer team continues their season as they take on the Cougars of Averett University at 2:00 pm on Saturday, Sept. 18 at Mary Baldwin.
Field Hockey
Last season, the Virginia Wesleyan University Field Hockey team had a challenging one since they finished with a record of one win and seven losses overall.
After the 2020-2021 season, the Field Hockey team is ranked eighth in the ODAC 2021 Field Hockey preseason coaches poll. The Marlins started their 2021-2022 season off with a rough start with a 0-2 record falling to the Shorewomen of Washington College and the Seahawks of St. Mary’s College of Maryland.
The Field Hockey team continues their season on the road as they take on the Eagles of the University of Mary Washington at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 18.
By Steven Serrano Cruz
sdserranocruz@vwu.edu
By Shirell Washington
sawashington@vwu.edu
