There’s nothing worse than coming up short in the postseason.
Despite finishing the 2015 regular season unbeaten in conference play and at the top of the Atlantic 10 standings, women’s soccer suffered a heartbreaking defeat to George Mason in the quarterfinals of the A-10 tournament, ending their bid for an NCAA Tournament berth.
With a talented young core and the return of prolific scoring forward MacKenzie Cowley, the 2016 Colonials are looking to complete the mission they set out on last year: NCAA Tournament or bust.
“The way last season ended is very much in the front of our minds,” said head coach Sarah Barnes. “Not the opponent and [conference] tournament per se but that we didn’t reach our goal of winning an A-10 championship and advance to make a run in the NCAA tournament.”
The Colonials claimed an A-10 postseason title in 2014 and won out as regular season champions this past year, making the NCAAs their next logical target. One-goal victories over Saint Francis (PA) and Cleveland State, as well as 3-1 win at Louisiana State Thursday, bode well for the Colonials in the long journey ahead.
“[NCAAs] have been a goal on this team for a while, and last year we came so close,” Cowley, a senior, said. “Making the tournament and fulfilling that goal would be an amazing way to end my college career. With the team we have this year, I have no doubt that it’s possible.”
As a three-year starter, with spot starts during her freshman year too, Cowley is now one of the most experienced players on the team, taking on a new leadership role as a wily and hard-working veteran.
“I really try to lead by example and set the tone whether it’s a game or a practice,” Cowley said. “It’s important for me to hold myself to the highest possible standard because if the leaders on the team aren’t doing that, then nobody on the team will.”
The Colonials will look to Cowley and their other seniors, including Kate Elson, Lina Proska, Kiara Robertson and redshirt senior Brooke Bean, to fill the void left by impactful players like Kristi Abbate and Brooke Stoller, who graduated this past spring.
Bean, an anchor in the back for the squad, is playing with a little extra fire, having sat out nearly all of 2015 with an ACL injury.
“It is an awesome feeling to be back on the field again,” Bean said. “I have put in a lot of work over the past year to get myself back to this point, so it’s nice to see everything come together.”
Bean has been a defensive stalwart for the Colonials since she arrived on Foggy Bottom, and having such a strong presence back on the pitch will be a lift for the team’s organization and success.
“Brooke has worked incredibly hard to get back to form and is as fit as she’s ever been,” Barnes said. “Her experience, passion and commitment to pursue excellence in everything she does and help GW be better than ever is an important part of what drives our program.”
The Colonials will need leaders all over the pitch. Already, Barnes said she has seen immense contributions from young players, like sophomores Dani Frese, Charley Prevost, Megan McCormick and Mia Barreda, as well as an impressive debut from freshman defender Deena DeSilva.
GW has been picked to finish second in the A-10 preseason poll conducted by the head coaches in the conference, positioned behind Dayton and ahead of VCU.
“The important thing will be how we improve over the course of the season,” Barnes said. “Last year started off rocky, but we kept improving. Last year’s seniors have left a road map for this team on how to become a team that is consistently working to be the best version of themselves.”
