2021 Williams College Women's Soccer Season Outlook

WILLIAMSTOWN, MASS. -- Williams College head women's soccer coach Sarah Raymond's debut was sidelined a full calendar year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Last fall Raymond only had fifteen players on campus and even less in the spring with six. "We are so excited to have all of our team together again and finally be back on Cole creating new memories," Raymond said. "It has been a year of virtual team meetings and individualized programming so being together in-person is going to feel amazing!"
 
Raymond was elevated from assistant coach to head coach with the departure of Michelyne Pinard after the 2019 season when Ephs went 11-5-4 (6-3-1 NESCAC) and advanced to the NCAA regional final, where they lost on penalty kicks at Messiah College.
 
There are thirty one players in the preseason camp with a senior class of six. The junior class consists of seven players, while the sophomore class has ten, and there are eight first years. Fourteen players on the squad have yet to step on Cole Field to compete in a game.
 
Raymond is looking to her senior class to lead to her young team. Three seniors have been designated as captains: Victoria Laino (M), Georgia Lord (M) and Aspen Pierson (M/D). That trio will be assisted by classmates Rain Condie (F), Mikayla Kappes (M), and Chelsea Taylor (G). "Given our large roster size this year, we expect all of our seniors to be instrumental in setting the tone and the expectations for this team," stated Raymond. "Their desire to win will drive the level and competitive tone in practice. They are players who have played in big games and that experience will be critical for helping our newest players. We need everyone to contribute to our team's success, know they are equally valued, and have a role to play in our team. I know we have a great training environment which is one of the first things you need for success."
 
"We have a talented squad and want to use our depth to contribute to our competitive success," Raymond added.  "We're working to have a strong lineup on the field at all times. This helps to keep everyone physically and mentally fresh."
 
While Raymond did not have a normal year in 2020 in terms of soccer, a positive to come out of that time was the ability to create conversations and team building activities with the incoming class earlier than usual. "Our team worked hard to build relationships, especially with the Class of 2025," she noted. "We knew that this pre-season would be different in so many ways: larger roster size, varied preparations, two classes that have not played college soccer, so doing what we could with trying to alleviate the nerves before coming in was a priority so they could be as comfortable as possible starting out." 

Looking ahead to the season Raymond offered, "I think the team that deals with adversity the best will set itself up for success. We've all been through much over this past year and a half and there will be more to come. Knowing that and having a mindset in place of how we will deal with those moments when they arise, is critical to our development this season."
 
This year Raymond plans to add a technical focus to the usual tactical preparation. That approach will allow her players to have much more contact with the ball and will serve to make each player more comfortable executing the tactics. Seeing her players enjoy the technical drills in the spring encouraged Raymond to find ways to incorporate more of this into the season plan. "The players really enjoyed the technical skill drills we did each day and ultimately being comfortable with the ball will help us play the style we want," Raymond said.
 
Eight of the seventeen returning Ephs appeared in at least 16 games in 2019. Headlining the list of returnees is senior midfielder Victoria Laino who was named the NESCAC Player of the Year in 2019. Laino appeared in 20 games that season, netted 8 goals and registered 2 assists for a team leading 18 points. Claire Tolliver a sophomore forward was second on the 2019 team in scoring notching 4 goals and recording 3 assists for 11 points.
 
A trio of seniors was next on the Eph scoring list with all three tallying seven points during the most recent season. Senior midfielders Georgia Lord and Mikayla Kappes each had 3 goals and 1 assist while forward Rain Condie scored twice and assisted on 3 goals.
 
In 2019 the Ephs averaged 1.8 goals a game while surrendering 1.1 goals a game. Senior goalie Chelsea Taylor played the majority of minutes in 2019 (1,010), appearing in 15 games and starting 10. Taylor posted 2 shutouts and a 1.26 goals against average.
 
Raymond's Ephs will open the season on Sept. 8 when they travel to Clinton, N.Y. to face Hamilton College in a NESCAC contest. The Ephs will stay on the road for two more games.   On  Sept. 11 they will travel to Medford, Mass. to play their second NESCAC contest vs. Tufts and on Sept. 12 they will go to Castleton, Vermont to play Castleton University.
 
This first home contest for the 2021 Ephs will be September 18 when they host NESCAC and Little Three rival Wesleyan at noon on Cole Field.