By Evan Sandel
The Scene staff
The St. Louis Community College Archers women’s soccer team won an impressive 16 games and a district championship last season, earning them a berth in the NJCAA tournament.
That has created high expectations this season for the team, which is based on the Meramec campus and ranked ninth in the NJCAA poll.
“Certainly we expect to repeat as district champions,” said head coach Juergen Huettner. “We expect to pick up where we left off last year and go deeper into the tournament.”
One obstacle is the loss of sophomore defender Katie Foytlin. She was the first STLCC women’s soccer player and the second STLCC athlete to be named to the All-American team. She transferred to Missouri Baptist University, where she received a soccer scholarship.
“We have a lot of players capable of stepping up into a leadership role,” Huettner said.
He expects filling the gap in production and leadership will be a team effort. That rang true during the Archers season home opener Sept. 3, when six players scored goals.
Particularly important now is returning sophomore forward and team captain Jessica Smugala, 19, a general transfer student at Meramec.
She manages offense on the field and keeps the team focused on the sidelines, directing warm-ups, “left foot ladies!” and dishing out encouragement and strategy in the half-time huddle.
“Sometimes I feel like I’m playing Mom, just to keep all the girls motivated and happy,” she said. “… They are a great bunch of girls and work extremely hard.”
Also critical will be returning sophomore Apolonia Thomas, 19, a general transfer student at Meramec. “Apo” is the team’s starting keeper and is key in directing the defense.
Huettner expresses confidence in his depth at the position, carrying three goaltenders on the roster.
“We have played all three of the keepers this year, and they’ve each done great,” he said.
A strong voice on Archers defense will be crucial to replace the void created by Foytlin’s departure, a void Thomas can certainly help fill.
“As a goalkeeper, you have to lead teammates, providing them with a sense of direction on the defensive side of the ball,” she said, describing her leadership role as a tactical one.
Huettner’s confidence in the team and focus on the national tournament is evident from his scheduling. This season, as with the last, he began with a road trip to Florida Aug. 29 to Sept. 1.
“Florida is the site of the national championship,” he said. “I want to work on recruiting in that area, but more importantly to give the girls a sense of the tournament and the level of competition.”
Huettner thinks familiarity with the tournament site should help the team visualize their goal of playoff victories. It also allows bonding.
“I feel like we really get to know each other on that trip,” Smugala said. “We watch movies and everyone just goofs around.”
However, this year’s trip was a little disheartening. The Archers returned from stronger competition in Florida winless, with two losses and a tie.
But players also developed a stronger camaraderie and enthusiasm. Spending 28 hours on a bus with teammates can have that affect.
“It gave us time to talk about more than our game plan,” Thomas said.
The team returned to give Kansas City’s Maple Woods Community College Monarchs a sound thumping in their home opener on Sept. 3. They proved overwhelming for the Monarchs in all aspects, but particularly in defending the clear.
Thanks to physical defense and a lack of leg strength from the opposing goaltender, the ball remained in the Archers’ offensive zone for most of the game.
“We have a balanced offense this year,” Huettner said. “I expect production to come from several players, particularly our returning sophomores.”
The Monarchs were able to make a push late in the game as the Archers rested their starters, but they we’re unable to solve freshman keeper Kelsey Hedges.
Six Archers, including Smugala, scored in the victory, while Hedges preserved a shutout in the impressive 6-0 performance.
“Hedges has come in and performed very well in her first year,” Huettner said.