Racer Soccer A Hunted Team In 2016

2016 Schedule I Gallery

It hasn't been that long since the Murray State women's soccer team realized their goal of winning the Ohio Valley Conference regular season championship and OVC Tournament in 2015.

271 days exactly as they walked out to the smooth green natural turf of Cutchin Field Friday morning to begin the first workout of the 2016 season.

In a period of about 24 hours in November, the Racers defeated Morehead State and Southeast Missouri on goals by Harriet Withers and Taylor Richerson to win the school's second OVC Tournament title since the program started in 2000.

"Honestly I don't know if it has really sunk in yet," Withers said. "It was such a great moment, but while it may not have set in yet, it's something that will stay with us forever."

"It was what Coach Groves thought we could do and he told us that," Richerson said. "But is has taken a while for it to set in, even though that's what we set out to do."

The Racers start their 2016 with a friendly match at Evansville Wednesday (Aug. 10). The season opener (Aug. 19) is in Ruston, La., against Louisiana Tech.

At this point, you could say the horse is in the barn as far as what the team needed to do in the off-season.

"You just have to work," said hometown Murray product and senior Lyssie Wright. "It's an everyday thing."

"Coach Groves made the spring very challenging," said Richerson, also a senior from Murray. "It was one of the hardest springs I can remember. His standard is high, especially coming off a championship year. And that's our goal again."

"We had a good spring and continued our work over the summer," Withers said. "We've maintained our fitness so that now that we're back, we can concentrate on soccer and not on getting into shape."

The Racers' Aussie connection now has three from down under on the squad. Withers and defender Naomi Devine are juniors and joined by freshman Jade Horclcka. Home sure is a long way from Murray, but it's made better by the many ways to stay in touch.

"Things like Facebook and Group Me are some of the things, so we can keep in touch and see how we're going," Withers said. "(Australia) it's a long way away, but it feels like you're almost in the country (USA)."

Coach Jeremy Groves leads his third edition of the Racers into 2016 as MSU will be the hunted after they went through to the OVC as the first undefeated squad in conference history at 10-0.

"Last year we never talked about going 10-0," said Groves who was OVC Coach of the Year. "It's going to be the same this year. We're going to take each week as it comes and the goal is to win each game."

The Racers must replace All-OVC performer Taylor Stevens and key contributors Rebecca Bjorkvall, Racheal Foxley and Marrisa Burroughs.

"It's like it was a year ago when we had to replace Julie Mooney and Pavlina Nepokojova," Groves added. "We replaced them when Harriet Withers (OVC Player of the Year) and Taylor Richerson (All-OVC) stepped up and we still have them this year. Lyssie Wright has stepped up and is playing the role of mid-field where Stevens was. We have a couple of freshmen that have shown they're going to help us as well."

After the season opener at Louisiana Tech, the Racers travel to Alabama (Aug. 21) for their first of three games this season against Southeastern Conference teams. MSU hosts Chattanooga in the home opener at Cutchin Field (Aug. 26).

Players Mentioned

Rebecca Bjorkvall

Racheal Foxley

Jade Horcicka

Taylor Richerson

Taylor Stevens

Harriet Withers

Lyssie Wright

Murray State University Athletics