Eagles Prepare for 2010 Season
8/9/2010 11:36:00 PM | Women's Soccer
STATESBORO, Ga. - The Georgia Southern Women's Soccer team began its first full week of practice Monday (Aug. 9), in preparation for the 2010 season.
The team practiced for nearly two hours in the morning and again in the evening, following the two practices per day schedule set for the fall training camp.
Head Coach Ashley Hart's main goal during the preseason training sessions is blending 13 new players with the returning players, and she has focus a majority of the first few practices on defense.
"We have so many new players, especially in the back on defense so we have worked a lot on defending" Hard explained. "We started out with individual defending and built up to team defending, making sure everyone understands their role."
The team held its first practice at an off-campus location Thursday (Aug. 5), and worked out Friday and Saturday before taking Sunday off.
"I am pleased with how practices have gone so far," Hart stated. "I think they are catching on quickly, and everyone is working hard to grasp the team concept that we are putting out."
On the fourth day of practice in five days, Hart said that the players are starting to get tired and she is able to better evaluate which players are performing better in key positions.
"Players are stepping up and competing for starting spots. A lot of our returners have come back confident," Hart continued. "I'm excited that it is going to be competitive at every position. There are a few spots that are pretty solid, but five or six are still very competitive. This causes players to work harder to get the playing time they want."
The Eagles will continue to practice twice a day throughout the week, with another off day on Thursday, leading up to the first exhibition game. Georgia Southern will host Armstrong-Atlantic Sunday, Aug. 15 at 1 p.m. at Eagle Field, before opening the regular season at home against Winthrop Aug. 20 at 4 p.m.
