Alan Samson
Sports editor
The women’s soccer team is off to a 2-5 start under new head coach Ben Birdsong, but the team sees a bright future with their new leader. Birdsong took over the program last year as an interim head coach after the previous head coach decided she was ready to move on to a new team.
“When the old coach decided to resign and take up another position, I thought it was a good opportunity for me to step forward and lead the program in a different direction,” said Birdsong.
That different direction has made all the difference to the players. Sophomore goalkeeper Haley Lademann is playing with passion and love of the game once again at the college level.
“He has brought the love back into the game for us. I enjoy soccer again,” said Lademann.
Birdsong has brought the passion back to the program by being passionate about coaching the ladies for every game and practice. Birdsong has been coaching for as long as he can remember after his playing days, from youth groups to assistant coach for the Shorter Hawks to now head coach. He has taken over the team and has started an entirely new program, creating an enthusiastic and competitive environment for the women’s soccer team.
“Practices are very functional, very passionate now,” said Birdsong.
Birdsong’s goals are for the ladies to continue to grow and to be the leaders they need on and off the field. According to players, he has brought positive change to the women’s soccer team during his short stint as head coach. He continues to focus on the overall function of the team to give them the best chance to win games at a higher level.
“We have been in all our games really. With the schedule we have I would like to have won a few more, but I am proud of the way our girls are keeping us in the games late,” said Birdsong.
Shorter students can expect great things from the women’s soccer team under this new regime of coaches, according to Birdsong.
“Our goal is always to qualify for the NCCAA tournament, and I believe we have the talent to make that run,” said Birdsong.
The next soccer game is Saturday, Oct. 5, against the University of West Georgia at Ben Brady Field.
