This week I sat down with one of the athletes of the week, fifth-year senior Caroline Preston from the women’s soccer team.
“It’s honestly been a great season so far, especially compared to past years,” said Preston when asked about how the season’s been. “We’ve really been able to get into a rhythm. I think even just looking at our record you can tell how much we’ve improved. How we connect passes and how we’re playing as a unit is so much better… Just from someone who’s been around for so long, the environment’s completely different this year. I think there’s a competitiveness there that really hasn’t been there other years… There’s a real sense of family and community on the team this year that there hasn’t been in the past, so that’s been super encouraging too.”
In regard to being named one of the athletes of the week, Preston said, “I think I probably received it because of my senior night performance, but I wanna say I couldn’t have gotten to where I am without all of my teammates… Everyone’s had their different little moments and that’s been the beautiful thing. There’s not one person who could get the job done… We all have to work together to make things happen and to play how we want to play.”
“Well, we have a lot of seniors this year that are going to be graduating out,” said Preston when asked about the difference-makers on the team. “I think that’s going to be interesting to see how next year goes, just because a lot of us have been here for a really long time. We have four fifth-years. That’s me, Peighton Sowder, Madie Boehnlein, and then we have a manager, Kennadie Pritchett… And then junior Hannah Muncie. And then Anna Sparks as well. She’s a sophomore. But it’s really spread all over the board. And then we have some freshmen that have come in and really stood out too, so they’re definitely gonna make a career for themselves at Asbury.”
When asked about goals for the season, Preston said, “I think for myself I really wanted to end soccer on a good note, and knowing that I have that extra year of eligibility because of Covid, I just wanted to see what I have left in me and give it everything that I have and not regret ending when I could’ve gone one more year. I really feel like I have accomplished that, and I’m so glad that I stayed, and just getting closer with the team, and making those relationships stronger for one more year. I wouldn’t trade that for anything. As a team, I really just wanted to see the program grow and improve and just stick around a little bit longer to see that. We had just got a new coach two seasons ago now… I just wanted to stick around and see how that was progressing. I’ve definitely seen improvement.”
“Our program has come a long way” said Preston when asked about what she wanted to say to the rest of the student body. “I think it’s just gonna keep improving, staying on that upward trajectory. We really appreciate the support and the friends and families that come out to our games and who have been with us along this whole journey, especially us who have been here for five years. We’ve been through a lot up to this point, and our close friends and family know all that it’s taken. We’re super thankful for the support, and just keep watching us in the future, because we’re gonna do big things.”
