Fall sports are back on the Linfield campus and the women's soccer team has a deep roster that's ready to take on a 20-match schedule in 2022. 
 
"It's great to be back during somewhat normal times," said Steve Simmons as he enters the fourth season of his second tenure as the Wildcats' head coach. "I'm just grateful that we have another opportunity to move the needle for the program."
 
The COVID-19 pandemic hasn't made it easy for Simmons and his team to move the needle. He often reminds his players of what they've been through over the last two years in hopes that they will have some gratitude for the things they do have and take advantage of them because they don't know when it'll all be taken away again.
 
"For many of us for a couple years, we didn't have that opportunity," he said. "Now we have it and we're going to take advantage of it. It's going to be fun to watch this program grow."
 
THE SEASON STARTED WHEN LAST SEASON ENDED
The Wildcats battled injuries all season long in 2021, finishing the year with a 4-14-2 overall record (3-12-1 NWC). Because of those injuries, a lot of young talent was put on display, allowing those underclassmen to develop and grow in Simmons' system.
 
The returning players knew what improvements needed to be made, but they didn't wait for the late summer to make those adjustments. It all started with productive spring practices that kept the 'Cats in shape going into summer break.
 
"When you feel that [improvement], it really gives you a boost of confidence. And when you're confident, you keep wanting to do it," Simmons said.
 
One glaring thing that stuck out to Simmons was the fitness levels of the returners coming into summer training camp. Some of the athletes, like many other Linfield students, are busy working summer jobs in order to pay for their education. With only so many hours in a day, they were forced to set time aside for soccer.
 
"I'm proud of the leadership group we have that set the tone," Simmons said. "Physical fitness-wise, we're the most prepared as I can remember going in [to camp], which paves the way for other things. It makes the learning environment much more productive. We've moved the needle a little, but it's just the beginning."
 
RETURNING VETERANS
Much of the offense in 2021 came from forward Laney Green, an Honorable Mention All-Northwest Conference selection as a junior. Green finished tied for the team lead with four goals on 38 shots, 17 on goal. She also dished out an assist in 19 matches played, which included 17 starts. Sophomore Kamahie Samudio also returns after scoring a pair of goals a season ago.
 
The importance of availability will be a critical piece to the puzzle for the 'Cats. Junior Ellie Friedrichsen and sophomore Kami Echiverri appeared in all 20 matches last season. Eight other returners saw action in 16 matches or more.
 
Echiverri led the returners with 1,466 minutes played, trailing just recently graduated Ashley Guldager (1,592). Senior Megan Sweeney (1,293), sophomore Sidra Griffin (1,272), Friedrichsen (1,194) and Green (1,134) were also among the team leaders.
 
NEW 'CATS ON CAMPUS
The 'Cats added 13 new faces to the roster in 2022, 12 of them being freshmen.
 
"They've really grown into the fabric of the team early on," Simmons said. "In the summer, they got to know our returning players and the expectation and where the bar is."
 
Much of this incoming class is coming from more competitive club and high school soccer backgrounds than this program has seen in past years. The newcomers are used to competition, and when they entered the program ready to hit the ground running this summer, it allowed the entire team to be that much further ahead as the opening matches of the season approach.
 
"There's no way to prepare you for collegiate competition, but these girls are coming from a cut different. When they step on the field, yes, they're still learning, but they're used to getting right in and getting after it," Simmons said.
 
IT IS WHAT IT IS
Simmons is never one to say, "This is our year."
 
Throughout his coaching career, every time he thought that, it ended up not being his year. And if he ever thought a particular season wasn't his team's year, he was wrong again. There are so many factors that can affect a team's season that he never really can tell how far his team can go.
 
"When you look at seasons where the win-loss record is what it is, there's a lot of growth that's just beneath a lot of other stuff," he said. "It'll be what it'll be, but the girls are working hard, they're coming together, and they've been as competitive as I've seen a club in quite some time."
 
Instead of worrying about wins and losses, the 'Cats are focused on controlling what they can control. Goal difference, which includes goals scored and goals allowed, is the main focus. Another goal is to improve their record at home because it matters when more than half of their matches are on the road.
 
With high training levels and a deep roster, the competitive culture has already spread throughout the team.
 
"If we can get those things moved in the right direction then you'll see us climbing the table. There's a lot of opportunity for a lot of different [NWC] teams to make moves," Simmons said.
 
NO TIME TO WASTE
With two scrimmages under its belt, Linfield has four matches before the Northwest Conference portion of its season begins.
 
The 'Cats open the slate at home, hosting Multnomah University of the NAIA's Cascade Collegiate Conference at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 1, at the Linfield Soccer and Lacrosse Complex. They will then take a short trip to Portland to play at the CCC's Warner Pacific University on Sept. 3.
 
Linfield will be tested on its trip to Chicago as the 'Cats go head-to-head with North Central on Sept. 9 before playing either Grove City or Centre on Sept. 10. The first four matches of the season are crucial because the 'Cats go on their Tacoma road trip on Sept. 17-18 to open NWC play against Puget Sound and Pacific Lutheran, the conference's top two teams in 2021.
 
"We want to be able to go into that trip to Chicago playing very good Division III programs ready to put it out there," Simmons said. "Those first four games are going to do well for us if we can prep to target that first trip for our conference."