Bobby Martinez – Sports Reporter
Southern Connecticut State University women’s soccer team has been on a tear this season. Coach Adam Cohen’s squad has been able to pass just about every test during this campaign en route to a 7-3-1 record through the first 11 games. A major reason for the success this season has been sophomore forward Caroline Staudle.
“Caroline Staudle is a real good player,” said Cohen in a recent interview. “She’s a natural finisher and a real beast in the box. She just wants to score any way that she can.”
On the season Staudle has in fact been a beast for the Owls. She has scored five goals for the team this season including two goals against St. Anselm College in an Owls’ victory. Staudle said this season’s success has come from the hard work she put in during the offseason, especially following an injury she suffered during that time.
“I broke a bone in my foot and missed all of winter and most of spring,” she said. “I would say that coming off that took a lot of work to get ready for this season.”
The Owls have been strong this season winning balls in the air as they have remained unbeaten at home. Staudle said the camaraderie of her teammates has also been a key factor during the recent win streak.
“We’re all pretty close,” she said. “We’re more of a family really. The bond we have helps us we’re gonna play for each other and their people I call my best friends.”
The Owls have won six of their last seven games and have only tied the one game that was not a win. Cohen and his team has been impressive on the year as they have risen to the ranks of the top teams in the NE-10 conference.
“[Coach Cohen] he gives us objectives for each game,” Staudle said. “Specifics for each game. He gives us all advice and tactics to help get us open.”
The hard work that Staudle put in to get back on the field has not been enough for the sophomore from New Windsor, N.Y. She said that although there has been good things she has been able to do, there are always things that can be better in her game.
“I really want to work on finishing balls in the air right now,” Staudle said. “I want to become more dangerous in the final thirds and be able to beat people one on one.”
The Owls have not only been able to win at home, but they have been able to fight for a position atop the conference. Only Assumption College and the College of Saint Rose stand in the Owls way from first place in the conference.
As she looks to improve her work in the box, Staudle, who was named the NE-10 Conference player of the week this past week, has been able to be a key component for the Owls this season. She said it has been a tough road back from her injury and but she credits her teammates and the Owls’ coaching staff for not only helping her physically through the injury, but by also being there for her throughout the entire ordeal.
“It was definitely a difficult process,” Staudle said. “I had never been through something like that before. My coaches and teammates really rallied behind me and it has helped us working towards our goals.”
Photo Credit: Derek Torrellas
