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ATHENS, Ohio -- The Ohio soccer team begins its 2021 season on Thursday (Aug. 19) against Virginia Military Institute.
The Bobcats will return to action after just four months off since the pandemic pushed their season to the spring. Ohio finished with a 3-7 record and last took the field on April 11 against Buffalo.
After the season, head coach Aaron Rodgers wasn't able to hold practice or work with the student athletes until the beginning of August. Rodgers had to trust that the team would hold themselves accountable over the summer and come back in good shape.
Rodgers said that the short offseason might have helped the players maintain motivation into this season.
"The motivation they had coming from April 11 to August 2 might have helped them stay accountable in the summertime knowing we have to be a little fitter, we have to be a little stronger and we have to be more prepared coming into August," Rodgers said.
Entering his eighth season, Rodgers will have three "super seniors" on the roster- Paige Knorr, Konstantina Giannou and Sarina Dirrig. The fifth-year seniors will provide leadership to the younger players with their vast experience.
"Their emotional experience and knowing what it's like to go through a season and knowing how to mentor the young people from a sociological standpoint, but also a planning standpoint," Rodgers explained. "It's really neat to have them around and they're all awesome people."
He also brought in transfer students Julianna Farina from Widener University, Madison Clayton from Pittsburgh and Ana Aguado from Minnesota.
Rodgers has liked the edge that the transfer students have brought so far in the offseason.
"We expected those three to have some experience and make an impact because they've already been playing in college, but they've all done really well," Rodgers said. "(They) are going to add to our program."
The Bobcats are also going to bring back almost all of their starters including senior Abby Townsend, who tied for the team lead in goals last season and was a First Team All-MAC selection in 2019, and senior Morgan Collica, who finished First Team All-MAC last season.
Ohio will also return three players from last season's MAC All-Freshman Team in Isabella Ginocchi, Shae Robertson and Carsyn Prigge.
Looking at the schedule, the Bobcats have a full slate of nonconference opponents, which they were missing last season. Rodgers is looking forward to being able to experience a full schedule and bring the team to new places around the country.
"Now we get to go to Virginia Military Institute, that'll be unique I've never done that before. We also get to go to Western Carolina," Rodgers said. "We get to play teams like Navy and James Madison; we've never done that before so it's a great experience, a great learning opportunity for us to test ourselves against people we don't normally play and to enjoy those experiences."
Ohio will wrap up nonconference play against Western Carolina on Sept. 19 and begin its MAC schedule on Sept. 23 against Buffalo at home. The Bobcats will play 11 MAC games before finishing up the regular season on Oct. 28 against Kent State.
The goal and expectation for the team will be to win.
"I want it to be a very uplifting opportunity and experience, but we also want to win as many games as we can and win the MAC Championship," Rodgers said. "I think we've been on the right trajectory, so that's our ultimate goal. Absolutely."
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