The Los Medanos College women’s soccer team experienced a tough season last year. The Stangs ended the campaign with a record of 2-7-1, resulting in a .250 winning percentage.

The team is looking to bounce back this year  and improve on a forgettable 2016 season.

Last fall was Zach Sullivan’s first year as the LMC head coach, taking over leadership of the team  less than a month before the season started, leaving him to organize a squad in a short period of time.

The season overall was a frustrating one for the Mustangs, as the women pushed through a tough season, losing for the second year in a row.

However, this year has an energetic feel with Sullivan returning to take the reigns for his second season.

During the offseason, Sullivan focused on   2017 early by adding new players who are excited to compete and look to put LMC women’s soccer on the map.

Among  the new players joining the Mustangs are Emma Spears at center back, Sydney Torrano at center mid-field, Mia Castro at center mid-field, and defenders Brianna Olmedo and Hannah Walker.

The team also has a solid stable of players returning for their second season, includingsophomore captains Vanessa Kualapai and Autumn Kish. Kualapai plays at center mid-field, and Sullivan explained her importance to the team. 

“She leads by example and knows how to control the game,” said Sullivan.

While with Kish, a goal scorer by trait, Sullivan commented on her style of play.

“She’s very dangerous to score, and can score from anywhere,” he added.

Sullivan has been impressed with how the returning and new players have coalessced as a team.

“The team is coming together well. We have 24 players on the current roster, and our goal is to win conference and make it to the playoffs,” he said. 

However, Sullivan is not the only one who is  excited to get this season started. Kualapai expects the Stangs “to play well, encourage one another, build each other up. I think we’ll do very well.”

Overall things are improving for the team, and the women are determined to make some noise in the Bay Valley Conference as they push toward achieving their 2017 season goals.   

The Mustangs will start their season striving for a bounce-back year on Tuesday Aug. 29 at 4 p.m. at home against  the Chabot College Gladiators.   

For more information about upcoming games, results, and roster changes, visit www.losmedanos.edu/Soccer/.