Northwestern soccer has had its share of tough battles early into the 2024 season, but the Raiders know that every challenge is preparing them for the tournament matchups that really matter down the road.
The men’s team, reigning Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) champions, have a record of 2-2-3 overall and 1-1 in the conference.
The women’s team is currently 2-5-1 overall, but 2-0 in the conference.
“We have already endured some struggles and disappointments, but those things are to be expected”, said men’s head coach Daniel Swier. “I do not think we are playing our best soccer yet, and that is okay. I hope we can keep improving and be at our best in November when the GPAC tournament begins.”
Some drastic changes have taken place in the men’s soccer roster. The team graduated 13 seniors last year, and 25 of the 43 players are new to the program.
“I like the balance of having so much young talent but some battle-tested veterans to help guide them through their first season of collegiate soccer,” Swier said.
Strengthening team comradery and improving their performance will take time and effort, but the Raiders are focused on giving their best, one day at a time.
“Scoreboard success follows committed daily actions over the long-term,” Swier said. “We also want our guys to enjoy the journey, so we try to create a culture and environment where there is a balance of fierce competitiveness and fun.”
On the women’s side of things, head coach Kelli Herman shares Swier’s optimism for what may come later in 2024.
“Every year I look forward to seeing the growth not just from year to year but from the beginning of the season to the end of the season,” Herman said. She pointed out that the team has been scoring more goals than last year. An area she would like to see growth in was on the defensive side. “We really need to work on keeping our composure in and around the box”.
When asked to describe her team, Herman called them “resilient,” continuing to push and put themselves in position for goal scoring through the very end of the match.
This will certainly come into play when things heat up later in the season, and with their “one day at time” approach, the Raiders are inching closer to being at their best.
