Below is a team-by-team preview for the 2021 MAC Women's Soccer season.
The MAC women’s soccer season begins today, while conference play is set to begin on Thursday, September 23rd. The season will culminate with the MAC Women’s Soccer Championship, which takes place October 31 (Quarterfinals), November 4 (Semifinals) and November 7 (Finals).
Team-By-Team Previews (In Preseason Coaches Poll Predicted Order)
1. Buffalo
Buffalo returns 22 players, including all 11 starters, from last season and will welcome six freshman to a team that went 6-1-1 in the spring. The UB offense will return all goal scorers from last season, led by Marcy Barberic who scored nine goals and added an assist in a historic campaign that saw her earn Second Team All-American and MAC Offensive Player of the Year honors as well as several other regional recognitions. The Bulls also return a veteran core of defenders, led by MAC Defensive Player of the Year Hannah Callaghan, who anchored the UB defense while also contributing on set pieces, recording three assists. In net, the Bulls will be led by All-MAC First Team selection Emily Kelly who continues to climb the UB record books as she finished the spring season with six wins, four shutouts, 28 saves, a .0.61 goals against average and a .848 save percentage.
2. Bowling Green
The Falcons return 19 letterwinners, including all 11 starters, from last season's club. The 2020(-21) Falcons went 6-1-1 overall and 5-1-0 in MAC play, outscoring opponents by a 17-3 count in the spring. The returning players combined for 100 percent of the goals and 90.9% (all but one) of the assists in the spring, and goalkeeper Lili Berg played approximately 96% of the minutes between the posts. Berg and the Falcons tied for first in the entire nation in shutout percentage (.750) last season, recording six shutouts in eight matches. BG earned the MAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Championships for the third consecutive season.
3. Ball State
The Cardinals finished the non-traditional 2020-21 spring season with a 6-3-1 record, winning five of its last six regular season contests to secure a spot in the MAC Championship game for the second time in the past three seasons. Ball State returns all four players who earned All-MAC honors last season in first team selections Nicky Potts and Lexy Smith, second team honoree Tatiana Mason, and all-freshman choice Mac Henson. In addition, head coach Josh Rife is the reigning MAC Coach of the Year.
4. Western Michigan
The Broncos return a veteran team, including fifth-year seniors Bailey Korhorn, Hannah Redoute and Maggie Rogers. The trio were granted an additional year due to COVID-19. WMU returns 12 of its 15 goals scored from last season's team that went 6-2-2, narrowly missing out on a berth to the MAC Championship game. Korhorn led the team with five tallies in the 10 games, also producing one assist for a team-high 11 points. Second Team All-MAC selection Morgan Otteson returns for her senior season after totaling eight points on two goals and finished tied for the team lead with four assists. Sophomore midfielder Kayla Whelchel had two goals in her first season, while Redoute, All-MAC defender Claudia Schilling and Claudia Schilling each had one.
5. Eastern Michigan
Eastern Michigan welcomes eight additions to the roster for the 2021 season, the largest signing class for Head Coach Scott Hall and Assistant Coach Joe Malachino since their 10-person class of 2017. After collecting All-MAC Second and Freshman Team honors in her first year as an Eagle in 2019, Amanda Cripps earned first team accolades following the spring 2021 season. The sophomore scored three goals as the team's second-leading scorer during the campaign, as well as added one assist while starting all nine games for the Green and White. Making an impact from the start, Lexy Alston collects her first postseason honors with her All-Freshman team designation. The Amherst, Ohio native tied with fellow honoree Cripps for the second-most goals on the team, scoring three. The freshman played every game for Eastern, making three starts.
6. Central Michigan
Jeremy Groves was named to lead the CMU soccer program in December, 2018. In four seasons at Murray State, he had transformed the Racers into an Ohio Valley Conference power and twice earned the league coach of the year award. Before that, he was an assistant at Morehead State, helping lead the Eagles to three conference titles in four years. Central Michigan was 5-4 during the spring, 2021 season, playing exclusively against Mid-American Conference opponents. The Chippewas are poised to produce in 2021 after a pair of near-.500 seasons.
7. Miami
Miami University women's soccer team defeated Wright State University in exhibition action on Sunday afternoon, 3-2, with two goals from sophomore forward Haley Anspach to start Miami off with a win before the regular season. Senior goalkeeper Lauren Parker had three saves in the winning effort.
8. Ohio
The Bobcats return to the pitch after a shortened season due to COVID-19 earlier in 2021. Ohio went 3-7, with all games being played against MAC opponents. The Bobcats had four players selected to All-MAC teams, with Morgan Collica earning First-Team recognition while three freshman (Isabella Ginocchi, Shae Robertson, Carsyn Prigge) all earned All-Freshman nods.
9. Kent State
Kent State women's soccer enters play this fall looking to improve upon a 2-5 record in the shortened spring 2021 season. Experienced head coach Rob Marinaro and his staff will rely on a mix of returning players and newcomers to make strides in the MAC despite the departure of All-MAC midfielder Vital Kats, who graduated in the spring.
10. Akron
Akron is set to return eight starters in 2021, including four of its top-five goal scorers led by junior Sydney Worthy, who posted team-high marks in goals (3), points (8), shots (13) and game-winners (2). Tallying one goal each for the Zips was redshirt junior Aislinn Meaney, junior Carly Pcholinsky and freshman Annabel Thomas. Sophomore GK Vanessa Berlin returns for Akron after starting six games this past spring and recording 35 saves.
11. Toledo
The Rockets enter the 2021 season with a talented and deep roster, providing ample depth that will lead to increased competition for playing time. The shortened 2020-21 spring campaign saw a Toledo Rocket named to the MAC All-Freshman team for the fourth consecutive season. Ellie Pool joined the list, following the lead of current teammates Stephanie "Stitch" Currie in 2019 and Ashton Cassel in 2018; former Rocket Madison Perrin earned the honor in 2017. Starting all seven games, Pool was able to log a goal and two assists for the Rockets, tying for the team lead in total points.
12. Northern Illinois
NIU returns 14 players who appeared in seven or more matches a season ago, including MAC All-Freshman Team honoree Kierah Meier. Other returnees including Haley Hoppe, who has scored six goals during her Huskie career, Amanda Czerniak, who has played 54 collegiate games, including 34 starts, and Kylee Hermeyer, who has appeared in 41 matches in her first three seasons at NIU. Jenna Lewey has started 18 matches over the past two seasons while Julia Lentz has seen time in 23 games in goal during her time as a Huskie. That veteran presence, coupled with 10 newcomers, has helped raise the level of competition during the preseason.
