KYLE SCHECK
PHOTOGRAPHER
JON BEERBOWER
STAFF WRITER
9/11/2023
As students make their return to campus, it can only mean one thing: fall sports are in full swing. These athletes have been on campus since the beginning of August and are ready to show what they have been training for all pre-season.
The three major sports of the fall season are football, volleyball and men’s and women’s soccer. The secondary fall sports are men’s and women’s tennis and men’s and women’s golf.
Scots Football is nationally ranked at 23 and looks to make it back-to-back MIAA championships and NCAA playoff berths.
They are offensively led by second-year quarterback, Carter St. John (‘26) and second-year halfback, Eddie Williams (‘26). These two were the focal points of the Scots’ dynamic one-two punch in the backfield last season.
On defense is the returning fifth-year linebacker, Odin Soffredine (‘24), who can reflect on the 2022 season performance that left him as a 2023 preseason All-American.
The Scots have one game under their belt as they trounced Ohio Northern University 52 to seven to open their season with a bang. The Scots look to steer that momentum as they move through their season.
Volleyball opened their season on Sep. 1 in the Cedar Point Tournament, where after dropping their first set, the Scots took the remaining three in dominant fashion. Under new management with first-year coach, Leah Good, Scots Volleyball looks to create a new dynasty over the coming years that is to include a strong performance this season.
Men’s Soccer also opened their season on Sep. 1 in an emphatic two to two draw against Manchester University. Upon returning home on Sep. 3, they once again drew to Concordia University Ann Arbor two to two despite being sent down to ten men following Ethan Vollested’s (‘25) equalizing goal in the 66th minute.
The Scots– under their new boss, Alistar Newby– look like they will be a force in MIAA season play. The new style of play the Scots are looking to win with this season is open for attacking and playing long through balls, but while maintaining a solid defense led by captain, Jack Lockerbie (‘25).
“It’s been a tough preseason for sure,” says Men’s soccer defensive midfielder, Matthew Przepiora (‘25).“Switching positions is something that I was willing to do when we realized the rewards that it would have produced. This brand of soccer that we’re playing at the moment is unlike anything that I’ve ever seen in my previous two years at Alma College.”
On the flip side, the women’s team is in their second season with Coach Kate Dylag at the helm. They currently have two games under their belt, albeit both losses to tough opposition. In both matches this season, they have produced good offense as they have scored with Jacqueline Daigneault (‘24) and Paige Kohler (‘24) getting on the mark in order to score their first goals of the season. This season is looking to be a tough but rewarding season for the Scots.
In tennis, both the men’s and women’s teams are looking to challenge their MIAA opponents after a roughly .500 season last spring. The men’s team is returning their star doubles pair, Jake Lasceski (‘26) and Ashton Trnka (‘26) who look to run doubles in the MIAA this fall season. The women’s team lost some seniors last spring, but new freshmen are looking to step up this fall.
The golf teams are swinging into their respective fall competitions looking to build on last season’s success. Women’s captain, Morgan Yates (‘24), is returning for her fifth season after becoming the first player in women’s team history to shoot a round under par when she shot a 68. On the men’s side with a lot of returning starters, they look to build on consistency as they compete in the MIAA this season.
To keep up with all the latest Alma Athletics stories, go to almascots.com.
