The Thunder women's soccer team is looking to bounce back from their 2023 season with a fresh start in 2024. Sophomore, Olivia VanDonge and junior, Bella Logsdon, have been named captains and will lead the Thunder returners along with lone senior, Jana Nguyen, and sophomores, Grace Ryan and Ally Albert. The Thunder revamped their roster with multiple transfers and freshman to compliment the returners.
Head coach Joe Lopez is excited and likes the outlook for this team, "I am excited for our squad this year because they hold themselves to a high standard, and they don't make excuses. They do not let the little things slide in practice and have the desire to be excellent in everything that they do on and off the field. This is a very special group, they enjoy being around each other and competing, they push each other, and we are very excited to see a lot of development as the season goes on."
The Thunder open their season at home on Thursday, August 22nd against the Mount Marty University Lancers at 5:00 PM at Frank Anneberg Park.
The Thunder men's soccer team is coming off a 7-10-1 season, with a 3-3-0 record in the Midwest Christian College Conference. The Thunder made it to the MCCC and NCCAA Central Region Tournament Championship matches last season and are looking to avenge those losses. Returners, Hagan Dyer (2nd Team All-MCCC/NCCAA Central Region All-Region), Lucas Kaneko, Chris Smith II (1st Team All-MCCC/NCCAA Central Region All-Region), Riuben Mwakynga (1st Team All-MCCC), Andrew Davis, and Corbin Hayes, will lead the charge for the Thunder. Along with these returners, the Thunder added an incredible freshman class and some transfers.
Smith II led all returners with 6 goals and 4 assists, respectively. Dyer, Kaneko, Mwakynga, and Davis all combined for 5 goals and 4 assists to round off the returner's last season statistics. Dyer started all 18 matches in goal last season totaling 106 saves and one shutout. The captains for the 2024 team will be Kaneko, Smith II, and Kansas Wesleyan transfer, Khamani Matallah.
Coach Lopez is excited about this team and how dynamic they can be, "Nobody on this team is limited to just one position, all these guys can play multiple positions, and play them well, which has given us more freedom to try different things in our game plan. It's a very versatile group. These guys all embrace our core values and have a tremendous amount of toughness."
The Sons of Thunder open their season at home on Thursday, August 22nd against the Mount Marty University Lancers at 7:00 PM at Frank Anneberg Park.
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