After making the conference tournament for the first time in nine seasons last fall, the UNK soccer team has raised expectations for this year.
Last season was the Lopers’ best since 2012, featuring 14 new individual and team records, but coach Rob Breton has his eyes set on the next step.
“It does not matter what we did last season, it does not matter the accolades we did, it matters what we do right now,” Breton said. “What are we going to do to prepare ourselves for this next upcoming battle?”
UNK graduated five players, two being defenders who started every game. In response, Breton recruited eight players, including three transfers.
“People don’t always see the puzzle when you’re doing a puzzle unless you have the box in front of you or the picture in front of you,” Breton said. “Luckily enough, I’ve been staring at the picture for the whole time while I’ve been recruiting the class, so I know where the pieces line up. Now, can we see how everything fits together to see if the picture is just as clear as I think it is on the box?”
Even with new pieces, senior forward Hanna Schimmer said that the bar has been raised. This fall, Schimmer aims to score 17 goals, which would surpass the single-season goal record she set last year at 10.
“Coming in with a higher standard all across the board, everything we’re doing, everything is held to a higher standard,” Schimmer said. “Freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, everybody has to come into the role ready to take on the big responsibility.”
The emphasis on elevated expectations sets up growth beyond drills in practice.
“The growth process this year is going to be focused around our mentality, our discipline and the purpose/intention behind everything we do,” Breton said.
Kea Barnes, a senior midfielder and captain, said the roster is stronger than last season.
“Incoming players and also players who didn’t really get the opportunity to step up into those roles, they’re really showing up and showing out,” Barnes said. “I think we have a really good lineup this year, plus subs, our bench is deep.”
One position Breton has an eye on is goalkeeper. The Lopers return Susie Bovaird for her junior season, after setting the school record for the most minutes played by a goalkeeper in a season. UNK also added freshman Madelyn Schaffert. Schaffert had a 60-1 career record in high school and was a four-time state champion, with the most shutouts in Nebraska high school history.
“This is probably going to be one of the best keeper battles that we’ve had since I’ve been here and honestly for years, which is like we have two starting-level keepers who can really push each other every day,” Breton said.
The midfield is also a position group battling for playing time, featuring a mix of experience and new blood.
“We have half of a midfield class that’s led by the seniors,” Breton said. “This is their opportunity to really either take it to the next level or maintain.”
On the attacking side of the field, Breton said the team is looking to find ways to score without relying as heavily on Schimmer, but utilizing and maximizing her in games.
With eight seniors on this year’s team, Barnes said this season has added significance to it than previous ones.
“There’s definitely a lot more weight on our shoulders as a senior class, especially for some of us who have been here and got recruited by the old coaches,” Barnes said. “We’ve been here since coach Rob’s first year and we want to make sure we leave the program with a good rep, good legacy.”
The “non-negotiable” for UNK is making the conference playoffs, Breton said, as the team aspires to be a top-four team in the MIAA and host a playoff game this fall.
The Lopers kick off their season in Minnesota against Concordia-St. Paul and Minnesota State-Moorhead. Their first home game is against Black Hills State at 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 12, at Ron and Carol Cope Stadium.
