USJ girls soccer preparing for another state tournament run

JACKSON, Tenn — Only two area girls soccer teams made their way to the state tournament in Murfressboro last season, and the Lady Bruins at USJ are looking to reload and do it again.

Thursday night the team hit the training pitch as they have been for the entire first week of practice for girl’s soccer.

USJ soccer fell in the state semi-finals in 2015 and are looking to get back for a chance to take home the title.

“We talk about it a lot,” USJ senior defender, Natalie Sullivan said. “That’s our goal for the season. We are just going to do anything that we can to get there again.”

This team comes with new faces in a number of spots, something coaches and players said is what they’re working to perfect before opening the season.

“A lot of underclassmen are having to step up,” Sullivan explained. “We have 3 sophomores and 3 freshmen that are probably gonna be on the field a lot.”

Getting that chemistry right is something that coach Paul Conway thinks is as important as the team’s tactics and fitness.

“You do have to have a creative spirit, if you will, within your group,” Conway said after Thursday night’s practice. “I feel like our girls are adopting a really strong unity here which is nice to see. You have to have that.”

USJ opens their regular season schedule August 15th against Chester County.