TFC Women’s Soccer: Reminiscing on 2022 Season
Women’s soccer team celebrates winning the Regional Championship.
Toccoa Falls College’s women’s soccer team dominated the fall season, winning the Regional Tournament and advancing to the national competition in Florida. The past few seasons have been rocky for the team as they have adjusted to new coaching placements, but this season the team hit their stride.
“We had some rocky moments, but overall I feel like we overcame them and ended the season great!” says captain and senior Elasha Farmer.
With a Regional win under their belt and a competitive run at Nationals, the team is excited and ready to hit the field next season.
Coach John Drouse and the women's soccer team exit the field.
For the Fall 2022 season, TFC introduced new head coach John Drouse, assisted by Coach Kim Berry. Despite the new coaching changes, it seems the team embraced Drouse as he led them to victory this season.
“I love Coach John! He’s a perfect fit,” says Erin Ritchey, senior and captain for the team.
Drouse is committed to the team and has supported the girls on and off the field. With new recruits already committed for next year, the new coach is continuing to build the women’s soccer program and is building off the momentum from this past season.
“He’s really committed to building this program, and he really cares about every single one of his players. Even when we were annoying him,” Farmer says.
Throughout the season, under the leadership of Coach Drouse, the team united together as a family. Even though they faced heartbreaking losses, and the ups and downs of college life, it was important for the girls to bond together. In the happiest of moments, when a player would score or they won a game, the team could be seen hugging and cheering with each other. Similarly, when facing the hard moments of loss or injury, the girls rallied behind one another and supported their teammates both on and off the field.
“The vibe of the team was truly a family. Even in moments where we were arguing or didn’t like each other at times, we always had each other’s backs. Just like a real family,” Farmer says.
These deep rooted relationships and sense of unity carried the TFC women’s soccer team through the season and into a hard-earned victory at the end of the season.
The women's soccer team takes home 3rd place from the National Championship tournament.
In early November, the team faced off against Trinity Baptist College (TBC) for the Regional Tournament final. Both sides fought hard, and the crowd could feel the anticipation and tension radiating off the field. TBC scored in the first half, leading the game 1-0. As the spectators chewed their nails watching the battle on the field continue, Maddie Desilva, a new transfer from TBC, scored later in the second half to tie the game. The teams went on to play in overtime and settled the score in penalty kicks. As freshman Beca Siufi made the final goal to send the TFC women’s soccer team to Nationals, the crowd exploded with cheers and the girls huddled together to celebrate.
After Regionals, the team went on to compete at Nationals in Florida. Being ranked third, the girls played the first seed in the tournament. The game was hard-fought, with TFC just missing the victory in penalty kicks. The other team ended up winning the National Tournament, leaving the girls knowing they had the ability to win first place themselves.
Farmer said, “We were the underdogs, and we ended up taking the national champions to double overtime and into penalty kicks. We proved a lot of people wrong, and showed a lot of fight,” Farmer says.
The team placed third overall at Nationals, but left with great memories and the knowledge that they could compete at a higher level with the national champions.
“It was the fight of my life,” Ritchey says. “Great games and great teammates to enjoy it with.”
With the season over, the women’s soccer team is ready for next season. They already have four new players signed for Fall 2023 to join the team and carry on the momentum from Nationals. Seniors Erin Ritchey, Elasha Farmer, Katie Kratochvil, and Lydia Adams will be parting from the team, but they have left a legacy behind that will continue through the next season.
“Love hard. Play hard,” Ritchey says. “Focus on the bigger picture.”
Although it is sad to see them leave, the TFC community cannot wait to see what the women’s soccer team will do next fall.
“Take the fight and the confidence that we had in the playoffs and play with it the entire season long. Always play every game like it could be your last,” Farmer says.