Seniors key to season for Panthers to reach NCAAs

More often than not team leadership is the dividing factor, which separates good and great teams. This year’s Eastern women’s soccer team will look to seven returning seniors to help lead them to a great season.

Leading the way will be midfielders, Devon Bissell, Katie Quiter, Melissa Rhines, McKenzie Smith, forward Kristy Zabrosky and defender Brooke O’Connell.

“Having seven seniors gives us a mature leadership group to set the tone for the rest of the players,” Panther head coach Steve Ballard said. “This years group will not only has to demonstrate leadership but also cohesiveness.

“Unlike any senior class in the past, this year’s group shares a special bond.”

“This year’s group are the closest any class has been,” Rhines said. “We all came in together and stuck together. Even the new girls came in and fit right in.”

Ballard said each senior has been an excellent addition to the team, all of whom made the greatest improvements last spring.

Bissell started in all 20 games last season, finishing with 16 points and 10 assists for the season. She was named Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year and has been a two-time First Team All-OVC selection.

Quiter started in 18 games and was named to the OVC All-Tournament Team while O’Connell, Zabrosky, Smith, Rhines and Katy Meyer each also made major contributions to the team, playing in almost every game.

Ballard expects much of the same this year from all seven seniors. He has high expectations for this group and believes they can reach their ultimate goal.

“Our sights are set on being in the NCAA tournament, and we have to truly take it one day and one game at a time,” he said. “The key this season is for the senior group to stay one.”