Lady Colonels tie record for wins, look for more in conference play

When looking at a 4-10-0 overall record, one could assume that it was another typical losing season for the Nicholls Lady Colonels soccer team. But while it does not seem like an impressive stat in the win/loss column, the Lady Colonels see plenty of positive signs to build on with Southland Conference play officially started.

For one, the four wins on this season officially tied the school record for most wins in any season.

Since the program’s inception in 1998, the Lady Colonels have won four games twice – once in 2003 and again in 2006.

The 2009 Lady Colonels have six more chances to attempt to set a new mark for wins with plenty of soccer still left to play.

“It’s nice to do that this early, but I tell you right now, if we don’t pick up another win the rest of the year we are not going to be happy at all,” first-year head coach Dylan Harrison said. “That’s our next goal, breaking the record. We won’t be satisfied with four wins, we’ve got to take advantage of our remaining eight games.”

The record-tying performance has put the Lady Colonels in the position they wanted to be in now that they are in conference action.

Even as their record shows the team has played 14 games, Southland Conference play, which began last Sunday, marked the start of a new season for the Lady Colonels.

The coach said it’s important for the girls to remember not to dwell on the non-conference wins, as they are only there to help set the team up for a run in conference.

“We realize that’s where our focus needs to be,” Harrison admitted. “The girls are ready, they feel that this team is a little bit different than in the past and that’ll measure how they do in conference. I think that’s fair.”

“I’m excited to get out there, get a feel for the conference, get a feel of where we are and what we need to improve on these next few years to help build a program that competes every year for a conference championship,” he added.

However, the team is off to a slow 0-3 conference start, but the coach has seen bright spots.

The Lady Colonels have remained competitive in two of those three losses. Their 8-1 loss to Stephen F. Austin was the only game the team never found its stride in.

Unlike Lady Colonels’ teams in past seasons, the team appears to be buying into Harrison and believing in themselves.

Junior forward Kaity Mattsson said she sees a difference in the team’s confidence level this season as opposed to last year.

She credits not only Harrison, but her teammates as well, for staying focused on the goals they set forth prior to the season.

“We’re mainly focused on playing our game,” Mattsson said. “We have a new system and we are going to take it game by game and focus on one opponent than look at things in the long run. It’s day-by-day.”

Team bonding has been easier as well, according to Mattsson.

“We’re getting along better than we ever have,” she said. “We all want to be here. We all want to win. It’s a family.”

If the team can keep the family together, then Harrison believes the Lady Colonels can make 2009 a record-breaker, and put a new image in people’s minds about the Nicholls soccer program.

With six games left to play in the season, there is still plenty of time for the team to make that happen.

“Hopefully we get better every game,” Harrison said. “That’s what we are looking to achieve and who knows where we are going to be at the end of the year. Hopefully our last game is going to be our best game.”