Despite a string of tight matches with results that haven’t always gone their way, the women’s soccer team has been turning heads with its lockdown defense.
Head coach Kristen St. Clair’s squad has developed a defensive identity that, although not always reflected in the win column, has kept the team competitive against some of the top programs in the nation.
With a disciplined back line, sharp communication and a team-wide commitment to defending from the front, the team has made it difficult for opponents, especially in open play.
“Our back line has a great deal of experience. As a defense, you can bend, but you can’t break,” St. Clair said.
That resilience has been on full display throughout the preseason. The team has rarely lost by more than a single goal, often falling 1-0 or forcing a draw. Nearly all goals conceded have come from set pieces, a testament to the team’s ability to shut down opponents in open play.
In a recent match against No. 23-ranked University of Southern California, the team held strong against one of the most dangerous offenses in the country, keeping them scoreless in open play.
“We had our chances at the attacking end, but we did a great job shutting down and limiting the opportunities that USC had,” St. Clair said. “We haven’t been scored on in the run of play. They’ve been off set pieces, which is something we’re continuing to work on.”
Much of the defensive success comes from the synergy and experience of the back line, anchored by Jana Heinen, senior international business major, and supported by Summer Allen, Rainie Clark and freshman Ava Lopez, who has stepped up in the absence of injured teammates. Heinen, in particular, has been a standout, with St. Clair praising her leadership and tactical acumen.
“Jana is playing the best soccer of her career. She’s really stepped up. She and Taylor [Summit] have a great synergy back there, and she’s helped Raine and Ava fill in for Taylor while she’s hurt,” St. Clair said.
The coach attributes much of the defense’s success to associate head coach Tim Strader, who has been instrumental in developing their defensive shape.
“Our associate head coach, Tim Strader, has done a great job preparing and training them,” St. Clair added.
Heinen echoed that sentiment, saying communication has been a crucial part of their defensive game plan.
“Coach Tim values the back line a lot. He’s been working with us. I feel like he always taught us to communicate a lot, like if there’s a second that you’re not talking, you’re doing something wrong. For every game, we try to stick with that,” Heinen said.
This level of communication has been especially important in high-stakes matches, such as when they faced USC.
“When we played USC, it was even more important to communicate and follow those rules,” Heinen added. “I think personally, if I’m against a really technical player, I just do my best to put my body into it.”
While the back line has been a wall, junior goalkeeper Bella Lister, a business administration major, has proven to be the safety net. Lister, despite not being the tallest player on the field, relies on her agility and communication to keep the defense tight.
“I’m not the tallest goalie, so I find if I’m not quick and on my feet all the time, I don’t have time to make the bigger saves,” Lister said. “Because I am kind of the last line of defense, I can see the entire field and I can see things that Jana doesn’t see, that Ava doesn’t see, that Summer doesn’t see.”
Lister’s communication has been key in organizing the defense, especially with a relatively new back line.
“We have a new back line that has pretty much stepped up. We have our confident Jana, who’s been there as our experience, we have Summer, who’s pretty locked in with what she does, and then we have Ava Lopez, the true freshman, who has really stepped up after Taylor and Rainie got injured.”
For Lister, over-communication is part of her strategy to stay focused.
“Even if it’s something silly that they already know, like ‘shift left’ and ‘shift right,’ I find if I don’t say that, my mind drifts. If I don’t over-communicate, then I start focusing on things that don’t help the team,” Lister said.
While the team’s defensive structure has been strong, set pieces remain a challenge. Most of the goals conceded this season have come from free kicks or corner kicks. However, St. Clair sees this as an area for continued growth.
“Defensively, it’s always just about refining,” St. Clair said. “We’re continuing to sharpen that, drill down and refine, but we’ll clean up and get better with those defending set pieces for sure.”
Despite the team’s tendency to draw, win or lose by slim margins, there is optimism for the rest of the season.
“I think we have a really good group, and I’m excited for it,” St. Clair said.
The foundation for success is already in place: a defense that bends but rarely breaks, an experienced and communicative back line and a goalkeeper who keeps the whole unit organized. With a resilient defense and a few tweaks to their set-piece defending, the team is poised to turn those tight matches into victories.
