Move over women’s soccer teams everywhere, the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Athenas are ready to play!
This year’s team, currently nationally ranked at an impressive 23rd for all national Division III teams, shot off to an impressive pre-season start with two wins against La Sierra University and Lewis & Clark College. After a slight falter toward the end of the pre-season, the Athenas rallied to an impressive Southern California Intercollegiate Athletics Conference (SCIAC) mid-season record of four wins and two losses.
But the Athenas did not stop there. They rallied right back after a tough loss to cross-campus rival Pomona-Pitzer to crush SCIAC opponent Redlands, coming from behind in the first half to win with a score of 2-1. Several of the five Scrippsies on the team contributed greatly to this win, including sophomore Megan Kum and freshman Amanda Drasny, both of whom are enjoying successful seasons.
The Redlands win catapulted a three-game winning streak, stopped only by a tie with Occidental College. However, the team then united for a big win against strong SCIAC team California Lutheran University.
Currently the Athenas stand in first place in SCIAC with a record 7-2-1. In order to keep this position, they must play two difficult games against Pomona-Pitzer and Redlands. If these goals are met, the Athenas will go to the National Collegiate Athletic Association playoffs, where they could qualify to compete in the nationals.
Coach Keri Sanchez believes in this possibility, stating that the Athenas’ keys to success that have gotten them through the season thus far—team chemistry, hard work, and senior leadership—will continue to carry the team through whatever lies ahead.
Wish the Athenas good luck in the rest of SCIAC games and keep up with them on the CMS Athletics website.