BY: Daaiyah Latham
Women’s soccer season is here for AUM Athletics. The now NCAA D-II team has kicked off their first game with a school-record on this past Thursday against Clayton State University Lakers.
The women’s soccer team includes head coach, Tafadzwa Ziyenge, 13 previous team players, and 13 new team members. The Orange and Black team finished the 2018 year off with a promising future. With the help of seniors Prater, Singleterry, Mendez, and Slaughter, the women’s soccer team members are upping their game for a better record than the 2019 season. Mendez had an outstanding year in 2019-she finished with 19 goals and five assists in her Junior year. Trinity Prater and Allison McCrimon are leading the Warhawk’s defense this year and are determined to limit how many goals their opponents can make.
Senior Warhawk Mendez is not new to making history. She collected Pre-Season All-GSC team honors. This was the first time in Warhawk history that a player has obtained this accomplishment as an NCAA D-II member.
The team competed against Morrow, Georgia’s Clayton State University Lakers at the Lakers’ field. The Warhawks and Lakers’ history from prior games is 0-2.
During the game, Warhawks scored 1 goal, 1 assist, and 3 shots. Emily Cruce was one of many who made her premiere in the women’s first game. She recorded her first assist as a Warhawk. Last year, Jaindi finished second on the team in points. This year, Jaindi achieved her first goal for the season, helping the team reach 2-1 during the game.
Although the girls were not at their Warhawk home, they made history! This was the AUM women’s soccer team’s first time with 16 saves in a contest.
The team record is now 0-1, and Warhawks will look to turn that record around.