IVCC’s young women’s soccer team finished up its 2021 season with an 0-9 record.

Although last year’s team was able to play a shortened season in the spring, the team was sophomore heavy. This year, Nyah Nowakowski, Klaire Phillips, Lillian Cavell, and goalkeeper Amanda Moran were the team’s only returning players.

“It feels good to return more to regular season without having to worry about COVID cancelling the season,” said Nowakowski, noting that the team’s goals were to communicate with each other and improve as a team together.

Despite being a freshman-heavy team after the COVID shortened 2020 season, Nowakowski said the team’s strengths were its ability to get along well together and keeping a positive attitude on and off the field, whether winning or losing.

Team commitment was one of the team’s weaknesses, according to Nowakowski.

“This year is more challenging to play soccer because of commitment,” she said. “Every game we have the minimum number of players to play (11), which means every player plays both 45 minute halves of the game with no subs in mostly 90 degree heat. Most people think soccer is easy but under these circumstances, it’s not very easy.”

In addition, the team’s goalie, Amanda Moran, was injured during an early game and she was the team’s only experienced goalie. Moran and Nowakowski were chosen as the team’s captains.

Freshman Daisy Arteaga, a Mendota High School graduate, led the team with three goals scored this year.