WKU soccer chases Conference USA tournament title
BOWLING GREEN, Ky – This upcoming weekend, WKU soccer takes on the Conference USA tournament as the No. 2 seed.
With 11 wins, one loss and six draws, the Hilltoppers put up a historic regular season and attribute that success to the togetherness of this squad.
“ I think the love is what pushes us through, whether it’s tough love or just being there for each other,” defender Abby Wiedermann said. “I’d do anything for these girls, and I know they’d do anything for each other.”
“Everyone comes to practice with 100% effort and good intensity, and we all have each other’s backs,” forward Makenna Egan said. “I just think that we all are hungry for the conference win after last year.”
Last year, WKU was seeded No. 1 heading into the CUSA tournament and fell to No. 8 Missouri State in the first round.
It was an abrupt end to the season for the Tops after they had clinched a share of the regular season title, but it made this group resilient. The Tops feel more confident this time around and grateful for the chance to continue playing the game.
“We’re just happy to still be playing,” head coach Jason Neidell said. “The game brings all of us a lot of joy, and to have the season just continue is awesome.”
“I think we had a lot of nerves, and obviously nerves are normal, but I just think that we’re more prepared,” Weidermann said. “We have more depth on the team this year than we did last year, so we have all players ready to come in and make an impact. I think that’s what’s important.”
That depth has helped the squad to excel on both sides of the ball this season. WKU leads the league with 31 goals and is tied at the top in goals allowed. In fact, the Tops have logged nine shutouts through 17 games this year.
Neidell has a simple piece of advice he’s given to his team to help achieve a season like that, and it’s what he’ll continue to say as Western enters the postseason.
“Just be present in the moment, savor the moment, be in the moment and think about the moment because you can’t change what happened in the past and you have no idea what’s gonna happen in the future, so just one action at a time,” Neidell said. “That’s how we pile up actions for an elite team.”
WKU will open the tournament with No. 7 Kennesaw State on Sunday, November 9, in Newark, Delaware, at 10 a.m. CT.
It will mark the first meeting between the Tops and the Owls this season.
