UW Women's Soccer - Building Momentum

BY BOB SHERWIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Washington’s women’s soccer team was behind 2-0 at halftime in their Sept. 24 home game against 15th-ranked Arizona State. An NCAA Tournament quarterfinalist last sea-W son and ranked 18th in a preseason poll, the Huskies’ mojo was waning.

Something happened in their locker room, however. They found a spirit, grit, and a purpose. They came out a different team. At the 66-minute mark, Jessika Cowart (Redwood City, Calif.) lifted a long boot, from nearly midfield, on one bounce into the goal. That was followed by a free kick goal from senior Summer Yates (Pasco, Wash.) at the 77th minute. The Huskies then held strong for two overtimes and a 2-2 tie that felt like victory.

“ASU, they’re a good team,’’ Washington’s second-year coach Nicole Van Dyke said. “(But) we know we’re a top-20 team. We know we’re good. We were down two goals, but we played well overall. We were doing a lot of positive things with the ball. Sometimes it’s just harder to get the ball in the back of the net. Some years you have a few more good bounces.

“Despite our slow start, that’s where I give our girls so much credit. These girls want to win.’’ The Huskies had a challenging start to the season — against the same team that ended their NCAA run — North Carolina. Last May in the COVID-delayed NCAA quarters, the No. 2-ranked Tar Heels beat UW, 1-0, despite the Huskies holding a 13-7 edge in shots on goal. Then three months and two weeks later, the Huskies opened with the Tar Heels, losing 4-1 at Chapel Hill.

Coach Nicole Van Dyke

“We had some kids coming back from injuries. That takes time and it kind of bled into our year,’’ Van Dyke said. “We weren’t at 100 percent or even close. No matter whether it’s a year or three months apart, to get yourself ready to compete at the highest level is a tremendous effort. It takes attitude, effort, energy.’’

Three days later, the Huskies lost to Duke, 2-1, on a goal in the 88th minute. They split 1-0 decisions with Loyola Marymount and Portland, lost to New Mexico in Albuquerque, 1-2, tied Long Beach State, 1-1, and beat Seattle University, 1-0.

However, in the Sept. 30 Pac-12 Conference opener at Colorado, the women lost 2-1. The Huskies entered October needing to reverse their 2-5-2 start. “We have to figure out a couple things defensively, but we continue to improve game by game,’’ Van Dyke said. “It’s hard to play against us. They work their tails off. They compete and we’re really starting to play some really good soccer.’’

Last season, the Huskies had an outstanding defense, spearheaded by keeper Olivia Sekany (Livermore, Calif.), who has returned for her senior season. She had the lowest goals-against average last season, 0.62, breaking Hope Solo’s 2001 record. She also had the second-longest shutout streak in school history at 646 minutes. “She led us to a lot of success last year,’’ Van Dyke said.

UW returned seven of its top eight scorers and Yates appears to be the player the team will depend on to stage a reversal. She was a second team All-American last year and is on the MAC Hermann Trophy watch list. “I think that’s what makes her (Summer) so good is she plays what the game gives her. She finds pockets of space and just exploits weaknesses,’’ Van Dyke said. “She’s an integral part of our attack, an amazing second ball winner.’’

Yates teams with Ameera Hussen (Federal Way. Wash.) — both 5-foot-4 seniors — as two quick, elusive, and formidable midfielders. Van Dyke said that senior mid Oliva Van Der Jagt (Kent, Wash.) “is one of the best ball-winners in the conference, equally good at defending and she is attacking. She is a catalyst for the way we play and the way we defend. “For someone who’s having a great year, it’s (senior) Ruby Hellstrom (San Diego),’’ she added. “She’s not on-board scoring-wise yet but she’s an all-out runner, just out-works teams.’’

A couple of senior transfers, defender Peyton McGee (Texas) and forward Mckenzie Weinert (Oregon State) are working their way into the scheme. Van Dyke said for the newest members to figure it out it takes time, a diminishing commodity as the Huskies count down the Pac-12 schedule.