In this file photo, UTC’s Donna-Kay Henry, center, celebrates after scoring a goal against Tennessee Tech.Donna-Kay Henry and Danielle Barr see clear signs of future success in their teammates in the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga soccer program, but the Lady Mocs’ only seniors want to enjoy some of the rewards this season.
“I think the program has been rising, and we’re continuing to rise,” said Barr, a 5-foot-11 defender from Hixson.
Henry, a New Yorker who tied for first in the Southern Conference last year in goals per game (0.5), admitted she wants this to be UTC’s breakthrough season, “and hopefully they’ll continue that and maybe even be better next year.”
UTC opens its season Friday at 5 p.m. EDT at Tennessee Tech, which lost 2-1 to the Mocs last year, and hosts Austin Peay on Sunday at 2 p.m. at Finley Stadium.
On the third year of eight scholarships as opposed to four — though still with six fewer than most of their opponents — the Lady Mocs have reached the level of “competitive.” Now regularly with 20-plus players, they were 7-8-1 in 2009, and although they went only 4-12-2 last year, seven of the losses were by a single goal and three were by two scores.
Only Tennessee and SoCon champion UNC Greensboro (5-2) beat UTC by more than two goals.
“We had 12 games decided by one goal [or a tie],” 12th-year coach J.D. Kyzer said. “That means we’re getting there or we’re right there, or it means we’re not there yet and we’ve got to keep pushing. It needs to be looked at both ways.”
He likes the mixture of experience and youth this team, and he likes its talent and toughness.
Nearing the end of a week of three-a-day training, Kyzer said, “Nobody’s missed a session. That’s a credit to their fitness level and attitude. Last year at this time we had three or four people hurt and sitting out.”
A solid group of returners includes sophomore goalkeeper Taylor Mangrum, who led the SoCon in saves per game last year. And Jordan Middleton is back as a junior after leaving for family reasons and spending a year at Middle Tennessee State.
Also, junior defender Kathleen Kent from Hixson and sophomore midfielder Kelly Crew from Australia have transferred in from Tennessee Wesleyan, where Crew was the Appalachian Athletic Conference newcomer of the year and first-team All-AAC and Kent was a third-team choice.
The eight freshmen include Crystal Mackezyk from Columbia, Tenn., who scored 156 goals in four years at Spring Hill High School.
“The freshmen are a really talented group,” Kyzer said. “I’m real happy with the team we have right now. It’s exciting to see the new people working hard and the older players feeding off that. They’re making it difficult for me to pick the best 11 to put on the field.”
Said Henry: “The people who were here last year, everybody worked on their game — and the newcomers should be a big help because they’ve been working on their games too. I think with hard work we’ll be OK.”
The super-quick Henry doesn’t just talk about working hard, according to her classmate.
“She never gives up. She goes hard for every ball,” Barr said. “And seeing Donna working hard is infectious.”
Asked about specific goals, Henry said, “We just want everyone to give 100 percent every game and every practice, trying to get better.”