After finishing the 2024 season with a 9-5-5 overall record and a 1-4-2 mark in conference play, the Case Western Reserve University women’s soccer team returns this fall with its sights set on a UAA championship.
Despite the team’s 2024 conference record, a UAA championship remains within reach. The Spartans finished third in the conference in 2023 after capturing the title in 2022, a season that saw CWRU advance all the way to the national championship against Johns Hopkins, where they finished as runner-up.
“I think we’re all very excited to kind of put last year in the past and just move forward,” fourth-year co-captain Alexis Sassower said. “I think we have a lot of great players and great talent this season.”
Sassower, along with fourth-years Mackenzie Mueller and Jamie Goldfarb, were chosen by their teammates to serve as captains this season. All three played key roles for the Spartans last year, appearing in nearly every match and accounting for 11 of the team’s 29 goals.
As members of the Class of 2026, the three captains were part of the program’s run to the national championship in 2022, giving them firsthand experience of what it takes to return to that stage.
“What set us apart that year was making sure that we did whatever it took to get the result on the field,” Mueller said. “Just a level of grittiness and determination to get those results is something that we’ll just have to do. And I think that the girls we have right now can get it done.”
Within the past four years the Spartans have gone through three different head coaching changes, settling on Head Coach Alyssa Johnson, Assistant Coach Ross Minick and Goalkeeper Coach Scott Lindsay to lead the team.
“[The coaches] really go out of their way to build a relationship with each player,” Mueller said. “Not only related to soccer, but also just to get to know them on a personal level, which helps a lot. I think they have put a lot of effort into making sure we are still enjoying the game.”
Sassower echoed Mueller’s thoughts, agreeing that they have been a positive addition to the team.
“They create a very welcoming environment to make sure that everyone feels like they belong on our team and has an important role regardless of whether they are on the field or not,” Sassower said.
With a graduating class of nine, Mueller and Sassower are eager to make the most of their final season, both on the field and alongside their classmates.
“All good things come to an end,” Mueller said. “It’s our opportunity to put it all out on the field. It’s the last season that we have, so we’re not going to leave anything out.”
Mueller has high expectations for the season, but firmly believes that the team can meet those expectations.
“I think we take it one game at a time, and focus on first non-conference and then really lock in for our conference games, since those are definitely tougher,” Mueller said. “Hopefully [we] get the title, conference champs, and then work our way through the NCAA tournament to get back to the championship, kind of how we started. Hopefully we can end off on a high note.”
The Spartans open non-conference play at home on Friday, Aug. 29 against Franciscan University of Steubenville, before kicking off UAA competition on Saturday, Oct. 4 versus the University of Rochester. Both matchups will be played at home and streamed live on FloSports.
“I think we’re a really strong group and we can make it very far this season,” Sassower said. “I want to go out with a bang.”
Disclaimer: Ellie Palaian is a second-year on the women’s soccer team