Kodiak women’s soccer to search for success through young roster

By Lethbridge Herald on September 6, 2024.

Herald Photo by Justin Seward The Lethbridge Polytechnic Kodiaks women's soccer team kick balls around ahead of practice on Wednesday.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge Polytechnic Kodiaks women’s soccer team is set to kick off a new season this weekend with a younger look than a year ago.

“We lost a few veteran players,” said Michael Racz, Kodiaks assistant coach.

“So that makes it that there’s going to be some turnover on the team. It just means that we’ve brought in some new players, there’s local players coming in, and again players that maybe didn’t play as much last year are going to play bigger minutes for us this year.”

LP did an Edmonton preseason trip that gave them  some tougher competition.

“It’s just kind of made the team (come) closer together,” said Racz.

“It’s typical in college  that first years come in and have to play a role on the team.”

Returning player Jayna Timinski thinks of the season as a work in progress with the new girls.

“I think once we do all build that connection with each other, I think we’re going to be golden,” said Timinski.

Timinski sees the opportunity with the new girls as a way to make that many more connections.

Racz  does not  expect to be the powerhouse they were from a season ago when they finished atop the league with an 11-1 record.

“We’ve still got some quality in this team and there’s still points that we can take,” said Racz.

“Obviously we’re going to have to bring our A game when we play some of the stronger teams like  Red Deer and SAIT. But I think that this team, if we play well, we can win on any given day.”

Racz sees the strength of the team being up the middle with their centre backs, mid-fielders and front players.

“I think we’ve got a strong core in the middle there,” said Racz.

“We all have our individual strengths and weaknesses but honestly I think this year we are pretty good working together as a team,” said Sammy Demchuk.

“I think everybody’s individual skills have just brought up the skill of the entire team.”

Communication will be key for this team.

“That’s always the No. 1 for any team and just the camaraderie for our team,” said Demchuk.

LP opens up the new season today at Ambrose University before hosting SAIT in their home opener on Sunday at 2 p.m.