The NIC Women’s Soccer team enters the 2018 season with high expectations.
“Our goal is to win the East division,” said Coach Dan Hogan. Of course, every team’s ultimate goal is to win the whole thing but it’s a process and the Lady Cards understand that.
There is clearly a lot of confidence stemming from this team. A playoff team last season, the Cardinals finished the regular season with a 12-7 record, 10-4 in conference play. They might have made a better run at the championship if they hadn’t gone ice cold in the last four games of the season but Coach Hogan firmly believes that this team has the ability and pedigree to put themselves in the best position possible come November.
Hogan is entering his 16th season as head coach, and 21st overall season coaching the Women’s team. The NIC alumnus has won over 200 career games and has consistently led the Lady Cards to various championships throughout the years. The 2016 East Region Coach of the Year is as excited as anyone to get this season going.
There are a lot of reasons to be excited, namely some of the athletes that will be taking the field. Kaysha Bailey’s name has been thrown around a lot by the coaching staff as someone to really keep an eye on. The redshirt freshman goalkeeper out of Lewiston will have two years to make a name for herself and prove that the hype is real. Sophomore striker Linnea Pretzer returns to the program after scoring 14 goals in only 19 games last season. Expect her to once again have a major impact on the offensive performance. Zoe Lee also put in eight goals last year and is expected to contribute in a major way in 2018.
The team has been dealing with nagging injuries through camp and now into their preseason matches. “I’ve got a few girls that are a little banged up with muscle and ankles strains,” Hogan said. “So we’re a little behind of where I would expect us to be, but hopefully by the time we start league play we will be healthy.”
Expect this team to make a serious run at the whole thing. Once healthy, this is a deep team that should build upon their 12-7 record from last year and compete for the East Region title.
The Lady Cards will play their home opener on Sept. 7 at 2 p.m. against Treasure Valley CC. They would love for the NIC students to come out and support the team.
GO CARDS!
