Young Pronghorns kicking off the season
WOMEN’S SOCCER TEAM HOSTING MOUNT ROYAL COUGARS TODAY AT NOON AT U OF L STADIUM
Erica Augsten can understand if there are some pre-game jitters from her rookie teammates this afternoon.
After all, the captain of the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns women’s soccer team has been there.
The Pronghorns open their 2018 Canada West season with a pair of games at home, starting today when the Mount Royal University Cougars visit the University of Lethbridge Stadium at noon.
With roughly half of the Horns starting lineup making their Canada West debuts, Augsten expects a few gametime butterflies.
“I think you have to tell them that they’re going to be nervous,” he said. “I remember that four or five years ago. You try to get our nerves out in the first 10 minutes and focus on two or three things you have to do during the game and try no to get to antsy — I know it’s hard coming in — and just have fun with it. It’s enjoyable. It’s our home opener and we’re going to have a lot of people here and it’s going to be exciting.”
Still, the Pronghorns captain felt all those new faces will only help in the long run as the team looks for another post-season showing after having made playoffs two of the past three years.
“I think it brings a lot of depth to our team,” said Augsten. “Pretty much every position is in competition with people, so I think that’s pushing our team a lot more. With the new players, we have a lot of energy for the season.”
The Pronghorns have undergone changes in the coaching ranks as well with Ilsa Wong returning as co-head coach along with Jack Reddy after the departure of Fred Trinh after last season.
Joining Augsten among the veterans are third-year defender Raeleen Vanden Dungen and fourth-year midfielder Lindsay Amatto.
Vanden Dungen will move to the primary central defender position this season, while Amatto tied for the team lead in goals with five last year and is the lone player returning that scored more than one goal last season.
Last year the Pronghorns finished 5-72 and in fourth place in the Prairie Division before losing 1-0 to the Fraser Valley Cascades in the Canada West play-in game at the end of October in Langley.
“I think we have to remember that we’re capable of making top-four in division,” said Augsten. “We’ve learned from our mistakes in playoffs last year. We know where we need to push through in the season and try to have those lapses and push us farther up in the standings. I think all we’re going to do is build off last year and keep going.”
The Pronghorns went 2-1 in their preseason tournament at the end of August, which included a 1-0 in over the Cougars.
“We played them in our preseason tournament and we beat them,” said Augsten. “They’re probably going to bring some new things to the table, but they’re a rival team for us, for sure. We’ve never beaten them on their turf, so it’s a big game to start our season off.”
The Pronghorns wrap up their home opening weekend Sunday when the University of Alberta Pandas visit at noon at the U of L Stadium.
Both games will be webcast on
http://canadawest.yaretv.com/schools/ LET.
The team hits the road next weekend when they face the UBC Thunderbirds and Victoria Vikes Friday and Saturday, respectively.
Follow @DWoodardHerald on Twitter