The first year of coaching women’s soccer at Emory & Henry was very rewarding for Anna Baker. Her team finished 10-8 overall (4-7 in the ODAC) and claimed some important victories.
Although the season was marked by a few disappointing losses, it also was a successful year for building strong foundations, Baker said. The building process included giving experience to a young team and encouraging hard work in the off-season.
"Overall, the team worked very hard to build these foundations and that has afforded us a solid year,” Baker said.
The team enjoyed many solid victories, most of them toward the beginning of the season, and a satisfying overtime win over Guilford College, which beat the Wasps last year in the same fashion, in the final game of the year. The Wasps had hopes of a stronger result against Eastern Mennonite, which defeated Emory & Henry 6-0.
“That loss was the hardest,” Baker said. “We knew we didn’t show up focused and ready to compete, and the end result was a pretty embarrassing one.”
Among the E&H standouts were goal tender Hayley Poland, who helped keep the team competitive in most of its matches. Sophomore midfielder Loren Favale scored 14 goals, including seven game-winners. Juniors Kelsey Sellers and Amanda Ragone provided skill, leadership and encouragement in the backfield while first-year students Tosin Sanusi and Kellie Flaherty were productive in many different roles on the field.
The team loses only one senior, Rachel Preston, who is credited with a sound college career.
"I’m very pleased with this team,” Baker said. “They are a hard-working group that has a clear vision of what this program can and will achieve. Everybody wants to be a part of that result, but, more importantly, everyone wants to be a part of the process.”