There is a lot to look forward to when it comes to the SXU women’s soccer team. Women’s soccer is usually a fall sport, but their season moved to this upcoming spring due to COVID-19. In addition to adjusting to a new season, the team also was assigned a new head coach last month.
The SXU coaches received a new addition to the staff on October 14th, 2020. Alyssa Krause was named the new head coach for the SXU women’s soccer team, and she is eager to get started with the team.
“I am extremely honored and excited to be the new head women’s soccer coach at Saint Xavier University,” said Krause. “I would like to thank Allison Kern for giving me the incredible opportunity to lead the women’s soccer program. I am looking forward to becoming a member of the team as we strive to create a culture of excellence.”
For the two previous soccer seasons, Krause was an assistant coach at Purdue University Fort Wayne in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Before her time in Fort Wayne, she was also assistant coach at Taylor University in Indiana, head coach of Taylor University’s junior varsity program, assistant coach at Huntington University in Indiana, assistant coach at Huntington North High School, and an assistant coach for the Hoosier Futbol Club team. She played for Huntington University during her college years. It is without to say that Krause has the experience for the job, so Cougar nation will have to wait and see what she and the SXU women’s soccer team have up their sleeves.
Although SXU fans miss watching the women’s soccer team and the rest of the original fall sports, the wait for their spring seasons will well be worth it. Similar to the SXU men’s soccer schedule, the women’s soccer schedule consists of only conference opponents in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC).
The Cougars play their first game of the season at Roosevelt University on February 20th. They have seven home games and five away games of their regular season, including the Roosevelt game. The team wraps up their regular season against Judson University at home on March 31st. Then, depending on the Cougars’ record against their conference opponents, they could compete in the CCAC Tournament. The tournament’s quarter-finals are on April 6th, which will be followed by the semifinals on the 8th, and the championship on the 10th.
The women’s soccer team could also make it to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Women’s Soccer National Championship Tournament. The team’s participation in this tournament relies on their record and how they do in the CCAC Tournament. The Opening Round for the tournament starts April 15th.
Last season, the Cougars, unfortunately, did not make it to the CCAC Tournament. Still, the extra training time the team currently has for their upcoming spring season could result in a higher-finish and a better record. The combination of more preparation time and a new head coach could be an effective advantage for the women’s team. It might be the exact tools they need to get into the CCAC Tournament and possibly the NAIA Championships. If there is one thing SXU fans know is to never doubt their Cougars!