As the Northwestern Raiders women’s soccer team heads into their spring season, they find themselves with yet another new head coach, their fourth in five years.
Ben Karnish was the head coach for NW women’s soccer team for eight years and had an overall record of 65-59-10. He was well-liked by the players but left the school to move with his family, allowing his wife to get her dream job and his daughter to flourish in a new school.
With Karnish’s exit from the program in 2021, Shannon Andringa came to NW to become the new women’s soccer head coach. While many were uncertain about a new head coach, they found that Shannon came to NW with a goal in mind. She wanted to utilize soccer to build Christ’s kingdom and make use of sport to help create disciples of the Kingdom to send out into the world.
“She promoted NW women’s soccer to areas all over the country and helped to expand the recruiting process,” said former player Madi Manary. “Along with that she also helped members of the team to go into the world prepared for life.” Due to a newborn and a coaching offer from her alma mater closer to her family she decided to leave NW with an overall record of 12-22-2.
Head Coach Kelli Johnson arrived at NW in 2023 with hopes of changing the women’s soccer team’s rocky record. Coming from a soccer career at South Dakota State and several successful coaching positions, NW athletics found Johnson to be a good fit for both the program and its mission. Life led her on a different path, however, and she retired after her second season with an overall record of 10-23-2.
Enter the new head coach, Vitor Pereira, coming from two seasons as the assistant coach at Oklahoma Wesleyan University following a five-year career as an intercollegiate soccer player. Vitor has a clear vision for the team as he comes into this coaching position.
“I have a deep passion for soccer,” Pereira said. “It is everything for me, both as a player and coach. My coaching philosophy is rooted in tactical approach and daily healthy competition, but also in helping athletes grow not just on the field but also as individuals, ensuring we maintain a supportive and positive environment but also demanding.”
Moving forward, the team is excited to see how Vitor impacts the soccer program and athletes at NW.
