51吃瓜

51吃瓜鈥檚 women鈥檚 and men鈥檚 soccer teams held their inaugural matches on Friday, April 2, at the new soccer field on the Beatrice Campus. This is the first season for Storm soccer since it was canceled last year because of COVID-19.

鈥淲e have definitely had our share of hardships surrounding all the COVID-related changes and the effects it鈥檚 had on our team/roster,鈥� said women鈥檚 head coach John Hakari. 鈥淭he girls have been training hard since August, and they were really looking forward to finally having an opponent.鈥�

The teams competed against Western Nebraska Community College on April 2, and Otero Junior College on April 3. The women鈥檚 team lost 6-1 and 5-1, and the men鈥檚 team dropped 4-1 and 6-0 matches. Both Storm coaches are glad to finally get the season off to a start and start competing.

鈥淚t felt good to finally get out there and see the team and roster we鈥檙e working with as a staff moving forward,鈥� said men鈥檚 head coach Alex Scheuler. 鈥淚 think everyone is happy to get the first couple of games in the books and get in the routine of playing, instead of just training.鈥�

鈥淲e showed that we can hang with these good teams as we scored early goals in both matches,鈥� Hakari added. 鈥淚t will only get better as game fitness improves through the season.鈥�

Dylan Tridle was named Player of the Week for the men鈥檚 team. The freshman goalkeeper had 11 saves against Otero. For the women鈥檚 team, freshman Trinity Babcock was named Player of the Week for her goal against WNCC, and her assist against Otero.

鈥淎fter scoring the first goal, it was a great feeling,鈥� Babcock said. 鈥淚t showed that we can compete with these other teams by playing together and putting what we鈥檝e learned as a team into our games.鈥�

The teams travel to Pratt, Kansas, to play Pratt Community College on Wednesday, April 7. For more on Storm soccer and other sports, click on .