The Vikings women’s soccer team rounded up their Fall 2021 season, wrapping up earlier than usual but in circumstances far less disruptive than last year when the fall schedule was cancelled completely due to the COVID pandemic and players returned to participate in a very limited alternate season in the spring. For a time, to stay in shape they even held practices over Zoom doing exercises with their coach.
John Simone, Mercer’s Director of Athletics, says “[This year] the typical 16 game season [was] shortened to 12 games, with limited travel and playing nearly without fans due to health and safety precautions. But overall, the team had a good season considering COVID and limited practices which makes it hard for the team to get their rhythm and consistency.”
Emanuely “Manu” Dos Santo stealing the ball in a game vs. Harcum in April of 2021. The team met again this fall. PHOTO | ALESSANDRO RIVERO
The Vikings have been practicing since the beginning of August, with both players and coaches taking critical safety measures.
Briana Engle, a first-year defender majoring in Health Science said, “Precautionary measures to keep everyone safe include having normal practices and games with vaccinated team members, and wearing masks before and after each practice and game.”
Players say they were well aware that they could not ignore the Student Code of Conduct policies surrounding masking and distancing on and off the field and that if they violated them they would have faced progressive penalties potentially leading up to suspension and loss of athletic scholarships. They took every measure seriously and no player committed any infraction.
Joy Koch who is an international student from Switzerland and a first-year winger who is studying business administration said, “I feel it’s good to be back on the field,” but added, “The games aren’t back to normal. There are no locker rooms for changing and no handshaking during the game.”
At the October 5 home game against Harcum Community College, Bruce Angle, a local spectator who normally attends home games said, “There has been a noticeable decrease in fan base attendance,” but added, “I have no concerns for myself about COVID and would not have stopped attending games even if I weren’t vaccinated.”
While COVID has complicated much of the fall 2021 season, the availability of vaccines did help get some spectators back.
First-time spectator Kym McKithen says “Vaccinations are providing hope and more people like me are getting out to enjoy public events…Since getting vaccinated, I have been attending more outdoor events. I definitely enjoyed my first MCCC womens’ soccer game and I’m looking forward to returning for the next home game.”
McKithen’s interest in the Vikings home game was spontaneous she said. “I played soccer as a kid, live close by, and noticed the field lights were on so I decided to drop over.”
The campus community also came out to support the women’s team.
“The men’s soccer team’s fans supported us,” said player Koch adding, “Mostly their parents and other players, sometimes even the baseball team came and watched.”
