[Women's Soccer] The Road Ahead: Women's Soccer 2017

Three games into their schedule, the Montreat Cavaliers' women's soccer team has a key matchup today at the University of Pikeville (KY). Here's a look at some areas to watch the rest of the way as the squad's road through the remainder of the 2017 season gets underway.

Montreat is led by head coach Courtney Nash and second-year assistant, Danielle Brighton.

DEFENSE

The Cavs' defense starts with their keeper, and Montreat has a good one in senior Jordan DeVaan (SR/Asheville, NC). "She's our best technical keeper and has the experience," said Nash. Freshman Alexia Heck (Roanoke, VA) is available to spell DeVaan as needed.

As a unit, Montreat (0-3) strives for a tight, compact defense that requires a team-oriented approach. "We need to be able to rely on one another and there has to be chemistry and community," said Nash. To achieve that, the Cavs limit their defensive subbing. "You really want to get four girls that work together, know each other, and are out there 90 minutes a game." 

The team has also been working on "one v. one" defense, or the ability for a single defender to effectively cover an offensive player. "Soccer really is a game of a lot of one v. ones. Until we are better with that, we won't win the conference championship. We're not there yet," said Nash.

MIDFIELD/OFFENSE

The Cavs try to build their offensive push out of their defensive backline and through midfield. Nash cited FC Barcelona as modeling the style of play that Montreat strives to emulate as it moves the ball upfield.

"That's the style, build out of the back, into the midfield and progress up the field as a team. We don't really want to look for the counterattack, but we'll take it if it's on," said Nash. Both coaches emphasized the importance of not approaching offense with a "forward-only" notion, but allowing time for the midfield unit to support its forwards and thereby have more players involved in attacking an opponent's goal. 

"Rather than having three girls going to attack, we've got seven girls getting up into our attack," said Nash. The coaches instill the mindset of letting the offense set up and develop by running controlled drills in practice that compel forwards to look for their midfield counterparts before pressing forward.

"Then it becomes a memory thing. Once they do it enough, it becomes a pattern that you start to do on your own without thinking," said Nash. 

The measured style of play will help the Cavs offense create space offensively. "Right now we're working more on playing it through the midfield and getting it out to our wide mids," added Brighton. "A lot of our mids are also going to cross over when attacking the goal. They're then creating space for other teammates and dragging defenders."

Ultimately, the Cavs are trying to attack the space behind their opponent's defense in any way they can. "We want to be dangerous, and be effective, and that's [through] finding a way to get behind them," said Nash.

TEAMWORK

This year, the Cavs have instituted seven core values that will help them to be successful. Although formally implemented this season, the seven are in part an aggregation of concepts that have been informally part of the team culture for several years or longer. Examples include "Giving Your Perfect Effort" a notion that's been with the team for some time but is now part of the seven core values. "Never Go Alone" is another value which speaks to supporting teamwork both on the field and away from it. 

Ultimately, the values are pursuant to a single overarching mission to pursue excellence in a manner that brings glory to God in the classroom, on the field, and in the team's relationships. 

To better inculcate these principles, the coaches have created small, laminated cards adorned with the core values that the players can zip-tie to their kit bags to keep them as frequent, visible reminders of what is important.   

In her second year on the job, Coach Brighton is also better able to convey the team's mission and incorporate it. "I love seeing players grow and working with them to encourage them to grow - in the classroom, in their Faith, and on and off the field."

CONDITIONING

This year's team has a roster of 21, which Nash notes is the roughly the same as it's been in recent years. Although the same size in overall number, the seventh-year head coach feels that this year's squad may be deeper than the 2016 Cavaliers. "We've got a couple of players who are coming off the bench or challenging for spots which keeps it competitive," said Nash. The key, she added, is staying healthy. Last year's team was hit heavily with the injury bug and wasn't at full capability until mid-to-late September. 

To that end, the team has increased its use of free weights in its training regimen and also utilizes plyometrics, a series of jump-based training techniques that help prevent muscular imbalances that can lead to injury. They also build explosiveness.

Agility ladders and extended warm up and cool down periods are also utilized by the Cavs, as are bodyweight exercises such as pull-ups and single leg squats. The team will look into powerlifting in the spring to add to their explosiveness, but not until they've perfected their weight room technique through twice-a-weeks this fall.

The coaches have already seen the benefit of the weight room work in keeping players off the trainer's table.

"I do think the weight lifting has really helped with injuries. There's only been minor things here and there so far," said Brighton. 

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Alanna Castaneda (JR/Dallas, TX) is the team's most accomplished overall player. She earned second-team All-Conference accolades in 2015 and topped that effort in 2016 by garnering a spot on the first team All-Conference lineup card. New arrival Hannah Leonard (Troutville, VA) has impressed her coaches early with her quickness. "She's a great kid, and very coachable," said Nash. The team also returns three scholar-athletes from 2016: Callie Deanda (SR/Sevierville, TN), Morgan Meredith (SR/Coalfield, TN), and Megan Powell (SR/Asheville, NC). 

SCHEDULE

The AAC has evolved in recent years from a clear two-tier conference into one that is competitive across the board. There are some consistent standouts within the conference, most notably Reinhardt University (GA). The Eagles went 17-3-1 in both 2015 and 2016.

GAME DAY NOTES

The University of Pikeville is 0-3 and plays in the NAIA's Mid-South Conference. The Bears went 7-12 last year and UPike is led by seventh-year head coach Gary Warford.

Pictured: Junior Alanna Castaneda

Photo credit & additional Cavalier team photos: Daniel Brunson Photography