By KJ Burns, Managing-Editor
After a winless start through its first 13 games, the women’s soccer team has found some momentum late in the season, picking up back-to-back wins last week as the team prepares for its final two games.
The team opened the season with 10 losses and three draws before earning their first victory on the road against Rogers State on Oct. 11. They followed that performance with another win at home against Northeastern State on Oct. 16, scoring six goals between the two games after having struggled offensively to start the season.
Head coach Dylan Gruntzel said the team’s improvement has come from getting healthier and making small adjustments in practice.
“I think the big thing is just they stayed together really well as a group,” Gruntzel said. “I think sometimes when you lose a lot of games, it shows the worst in people, and that never happened with them.”
Injuries have been one of the team’s biggest challenges this season, forcing the coaching staff to adjust lineups and move players into different positions.
Gruntzel said finding the right combination of players while managing playing-time restrictions has been a challenge, but the team has been willing to make those adjustments.
“We can’t put this together exactly how we want, so how do we move players around and still make the puzzle fit?” he said.
Rather than making major changes to the team’s approach, Gruntzel said, the coaching staff focused on small improvements, particularly with ball possession and creating scoring opportunities.
Several players have also stepped up throughout the season, including freshmen Victoria Sandoval and Mya Campbell, who have contributed in the midfield and defense.
Gruntzel also praised seniors Emma Kolbe and Grace Long for their impact on games, even when their contributions do not appear on the stat sheet.
“Especially with Grace, she’s done a great job,” he said. “When she’s in the game, you can see the game’s different.”
Offensively, freshman Iveta Stefancinova, sophomore Aleksah Moreno and senior Allison Hernandez have each scored three goals for the Jets.
With two games remaining, Newman still has an opportunity to qualify for the conference tournament, something Gruntzel said the program has not been in position to do this late in a season since around 2019.
“It’d be nice to make the conference tournament, but we need to win both, probably need a little bit of help, but it’s definitely attainable,” he said.
The Jets will travel to Joplin, Missouri, to face Missouri Southern before playing at home for their final regular-season game against nationally ranked Washburn University at 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
The home finale will also serve as a benefit game for people affected by Saturday’s incident at Stryker Sports Complex. The game will raise funds to support those impacted by the incident, during which two people were killed when a truck drove onto the field. It will also bring the Newman community together for the team’s final home appearance of the season.
Gruntzel said the benefit was still being finalized .
Gruntzel also said that he is optimistic about the program’s future, with a strong group of returning players and a promising incoming class for 2027.
Newman is expected to lose four players to graduation, although two could potentially return for a fifth year following new eligibility rules.
Gruntzel said the team has improved from last season, but what has impressed him most is how the players have continued to support one another despite their struggles.
“Win, lose or draw, they are a complete team with how they treat each other,” he said.
PHOTO: Courtesy, Newman Athletics
