To open the season, the Ocelots traveled to Westfield, Indiana, to participate in a showcase and defend their 8th position in the NJCAA DII rankings. On Aug. 22 the Ocelots played against the Neosho County Panthers, who play in the KJCCC conference in Kansas. Currently, Neosho is not ranked among the top 20 in NJCAA DII.
The Ocelots demonstrated a solid performance, dictating the pace of the match, maintaining possession, and commanding the offensive actions. The team’s first goal was scored at the 32 minute mark by Sophia Maldonado assisted by Ella Vandemergel and Brianna Murphy, who found the back of the net after a cross into the box, with the midfielder coming in with a shot that displaced the goalkeeper.
In a game marked by a collective performance, freshmen forward Briana Murphy stole the show by scoring two goals in her collegiate soccer debut. Her first goal, coming 37 minutes into the first half, was a beautiful strike from outside the box that found the top-left corner, giving the Panthers’ goalkeeper no chance.
Murphy’s second goal of the game, came in the second half, at the 80th minute. Murphy stole the ball from one of the center-backs and, catching the Neosho defense off guard, chipped the goalkeeper with a precise shot.
According to Murphy, scoring a goal feels like a job well done.
“It always feels great to score a goal” said Murphy. “But the way I see it, it’s my job as a forward to score, so I always feel a sense of accomplishment after scoring as well. It also gives the team more cushion to fall back on in case of a defensive breakdown and also allows for more rotation in the line up.” The Ocelots grabbed their first win of the season, 3-0.
The first setback
After the match against Neosho, the celebrations didn’t last long, as the next day the Ocelots knew they would face a strong Jones team, which was ranked 10th in the NJCAA, who play in the MACCC conference in Mississippi.
The game, which seemed quite balanced in the first half with the Ocelots creating scoring opportunities, changed course in the second half.
Jones managed to open the scoring in the initial minutes of the second half and, in the final minutes, suddenly scored two quick goals, extending their lead and sealing the win. Thus, the Ocelots faced their first major challenge in a game that ended in a 3-0 defeat.
The loss, however, served as an important lesson for the team. According to team co-captain, sophomore Jessica Clyde, the experience was a learning opportunity for the group. “Preseason is a great opportunity to determine what areas we excel at but also areas for potential improvement,” said Clyde. “The loss to Jones was just that, it was a hard-fought game but it was also insightful as it demonstrated ways we could change for the better. To me, the best motivation comes from the greatest disappointments. Although the loss was disappointing, it’s just fueling our desire to get better as a team.”
A winning streak solidifies the season’s opening games
With no time for lamenting, the Ocelots hosted the Jets of Jackson Community College at home on August 27 for a friendly match.
The team was once again able to build on its playing style and correct mistakes from the previous game. The scoring was opened just 10 minutes in by Ella Vandemergel, who scored the first goal of her career in college.
Maintaining their intensity and looking to extend the lead, the Ocelots were awarded a penalty kick after a handball in the box. Briana Murphy scored on the kick, making it 2-0 and marking her third goal in three games.
Before the end of the first half, Jackson’s Claudia Allen scored, bringing a sense of relief to the Jets that was at a disadvantage but now closer to a tie.
Midway through the second half, after a corner kick by Vandemergel, the ball found Kaiyah Gromadzki, who sent it into the back of the net at the 68th minute, securing the victory for the Ocelots.
Following this series of games, the Ocelots had another test along the way and hosted South Suburban College, based in South Holland, Illinois. In a game where five different Ocelots found the back of the net, Head Coach Ken Shingledecker took the opportunity to rotate more players. They did not disappoint and secured another victory.
The scoring was opened early in the game, at 6 minutes, by Briana Murphy, her 4th goal of the season. At 10 minutes, Jessica Clyde scored her first goal of the season.
At the beginning of the second half, defender Raina Lutz extended the lead to 3-0, which was also her first goal. In the final ten minutes, Belen Ibanez made it four and Ana Slebdonik scored the fifth to close out the match, solidifying the team’s victory. The goals by Ibanez and Sledonik were their first goals in their college career.
With the win over South Suburban, the Ocelots moved their record to 3-1-0, and they demonstrated that they had a versatile and concise team. Even with the substitutions made by the coaching staff, the Ocelots maintained the tactical plan and a good level of play.
Coach Shingledecker highlights a key strength for the upcoming conference season.
“We have an excellent mix of top-end talent and overall team depth. We feel very comfortable playing 20-22 players in every game. We haven’t been able to say that the past four seasons we have been here.”
A hard-fought loss to Central Iowa
Schoolcraft faced one more challenge at home on Sept. 5 against Central Iowa, which was ranked 12th in the NJCAA.
The Ocelots had an extremely offensive game, with 22 shots, but none of them found the back of the net. On the other side, doing their defensive part, Central Iowa, in two attacking opportunities, managed to score twice, setting the final score at 2-0.
This match highlighted a crucial area for improvement, as Coach Shingledecker noted. “Seems like if we score a goal, we win the game. Unfortunately, in our two losses, we have failed to score. We need to become more consistent in front of goal.”
Conference expectations
After the first five games with a record of 3-2-0 and maintaining their 8th-place national ranking in the NJCAA, the Ocelots are ready for the start of the MCCAA (Michigan Community College Athletic Association) conference matches.
These initial games have already given a spoiler about the team’s new identity and synergy. According to Jessica Clyde, the team spirit is “genuinely incredible.” Clyde describes the team as having adapted quickly, finding a good balance between fun and hard work.
Team unity, according to the captain, is a fundamental factor for success. “The best soccer is played when we’re having the most fun, which is what we try to maintain throughout the season, said Clyde.”
For captain Jessica Clyde, last season’s experience is a motivator and a benchmark for the current team.
“Learning from last year’s mistakes and also building on what we achieved last year is very important for this team,” said Clyde. “After last year, we clearly have high expectations and hopes to reach regionals, districts, and nationals again and come away with better results, but also to grow as a team. There’s always room for improvement, and that desire to improve is clearly present in this group.”
The Ocelots look to build momentum as conference play begins. As for the ultimate ambition for the season is clear, as Coach Shingledecker succinctly puts it: “Our goal is to win our last game. Only one team in the country gets to do that.”
