Liberty Women’s Soccer Forced to Grapple With Another Lost Season

Receiving the news that the fall soccer season is postponed until spring was a devastating blow for Atlantic Sun athletes, but LU’s women’s soccer team is working day by day to keep momentum going in the midst of an uncertain year.

Due to COVID-19, the ASUN conference decided it was in the best interest of players and staff to postpone the fall 2020 season for all sports. Though the soccer team hoped for a fall season after already losing their spring schedule in March, Head Coach Lang Wedemeyer said the team knew a postponement was likely – but for his seniors, that did not necessarily soften the blow.

“We have a great senior class of ladies who have worked so hard that came in as freshmen when I first started here,” Wedemeyer said. “We have been through this journey together. They have really helped to shape this culture and you really wanted to see them compete in this last season.”

Senior defender Cora Duininck was disappointed when she heard the postponement was finalized. However, Duininck expressed that a season of this nature could have benefits for incoming freshmen, allowing them to learn the plays and gel with the team before jumping into the next season. 

“It’s a really cool opportunity because usually we are in the preseason and you just get right into it,” Duininck said. “But we now have the extra months to just get to know them and get to know who they are as people.”

At the same time, the team is currently adjusting to the unprecedented challenges of a sports world transformed by COVID-19. From frequent temperature checks to limited social interactions, Wedemeyer’s players are trying to find their stride in a bizarre reality.

For Wedemeyer, even his players’ unity as a team is challenged by the pandemic. As the virus makes it difficult to gather in groups, the team connection points he would normally emphasize are much harder to find, Wedemeyer said.

“One of the things, as most coaches know, that’s so valuable is your team bonding,” Wedemeyer said. “Doing things together as a team and doing things outside of the sport. We’ve been limited in those aspects.”

However, Wedemeyer is not dwelling on the negatives of this situation, but instead will be using this time as a chance to take a fresh look at the game he coaches.

“When the sport gets taken away from you like it was, unexpectedly, you really come to appreciate just the simple opportunities to practice again,” Wedemeyer said.

Both Wedemeyer and Duininck discussed their faith as a stabilizer throughout a strenuous year, providing an anchor during the daily challenges of COVID-19.

“(Jesus provides) that peace and that joy, ultimately,” Duininck said. “It’s very important that we look different than other programs. We have a hope to hold on to.”

Amidst the disappointing reality of a cancelled season, the team is looking forward to the next time they play – whenever it happens.

“We are prepared to handle it pretty well,” Duininck said. “Across the board, we’re all kind of in the same boat as far as we don’t know what is going to happen. But let’s make the most of this time.”

Christian Shields is a Sports Reporter.