Although the Eureka Women’s Soccer team has only recently started their ‘24 season, Coach Reece Scragg and the team have been preparing for their comeback all summer long.
Scragg started coaching for the Eureka’s women’s soccer team during the ‘22-’23 school year. Then, the team consisted of several recruited soccer players and student athletes from various other Eureka women’s sport teams, because the team did not have enough athletes to play.
“We’ve been making a conscious effort to continue to progress and move forward,” Scragg said.
Even if the previous year wasn’t ideal for Scragg or the team, the effort to move forward has been great. There are 2 returning players who serve as guidance for the new recruits.
“This year, it’s all about progression and growth. We continue to move forward and embrace what it was, what we are, and what we want to be.”
Junior midfielder Abby Mitchell (14) has been playing for Eureka women’s soccer since her freshman year, and has seen the program change firsthand.
“Last year, we had a team full of girls who played basketball, golf, wrestled, and some who had never even played soccer before. Every one of those girls who came out to help our team wanted to be there and would push through every game and practice, and I believe that is being seen in this team again,” Mitchell said.
In order to move forward, Scragg is taking it upon himself to, in his words, “hard reset” the team.
“A lot of it was a hard reset, which is what really needed to happen. I tried to bring in as many new players as I possibly could,” Scragg said.
To ensure the team could properly play this year, Scragg started with recruiting many new players, consisting of 10 freshmen and two transfers.
“There are many players that I will reach out to that I’ve seen, whether that be through different recruitment platforms, profiles, or I’ve seen them in person in travel or high school games. There’s also many people that will reach out to me personally, whether it be through email or a recruitment form, which is where it starts.”
The new recruits started practicing together shortly after move-in. After recruitment, Scragg purchased new practice equipment and new uniforms for the team.
“We’ve got new uniforms, we’ve got a lot of new stuff going on, and I think that needed to happen. I didn’t want there to be, for lack of better words, too much of the old.”
Throughout practice, freshman women’s soccer midfielder Addison Byers (23) has stated she feels “very optimistic” about the team.
“While talking with Reece when I first met him on my visit, I got a very good first impression that he would be the coach to help turn this program around.” Byers has been playing soccer since she was 4, and was recruited from Flushing, Michigan. To Byers, the “hard reset” seems to be going well.
“I think it does help a lot when you feel like a college team and you feel like a college athlete. Scragg did buy new uniforms for us and new gear, and I think all of it has been helping. He bought us gear to travel in, which is really nice. We all travel together and have matching bags, we wear the same socks and sweatshirts. I do think it’s helping, because stuff like that isn’t changing the players we are on the field, but it does help the mentality that this is a brand new start.”
The season so far has included a scrimmage, three away games, the first at Berea, KY (0-11) the second at Monmouth, IL (10-0), and the third at Knox, IL (0-8), two home games, playing Rockford (0-13) and Maranatha Baptist (1-3), currently sitting at 0-5.
The team has been improving as their season progresses. At their home game on Sep. 14, freshman forward Julia Chlebek (9) scored the team’s first goal of the season, assisted by Byers. “I definitely think as we get farther into the season we’re going to get better playing with each other,” Byers said.
Other players seem to feel the same way.
“Yes, I definitely feel like we’re improving,” freshman defensive player Morgan Oginsky (5) said after the game on Sep. 14.
“I think we are progressing as individuals and improving together. Although we haven’t won a game yet, I feel that with each game we get better at playing together and understanding together,” junior defensive player Logan Webster (27) said.
Although it’s still early in the season and school year, Scragg has already started recruitment for next year.
“Recruiting doesn’t stop. That’s the reality. We’ve already got our first few verbal 2025 commitments,” Scragg said.
As the Eureka Women’s Soccer Team continues to improve, be sure to support them with their games on, Sep. 28, Oct. 2, and their next home game on Oct. 4.
