Story by Adam Redfern, Contributing writer

With the Jeremy Groves and Harriet Withers era over for Murray State soccer, Head Coach Matt Lodge will look to take the team to new heights.

Groves’ departure at the conclusion of last season for an associate head coaching job at Mississippi State left Murray State soccer with a hole to fill. Lodge, who worked under Groves for four  years, was the natural successor for the job. With an in-house hire for Head Coach, the team responded well to the familiar face of Lodge.

“I think the transition is going good,” Lodge said. “Groves kind of groomed me in a sense that he knew I wanted to be a head coach. Groves taught me the ropes, and showed me what I need to do. I still talk to him now. He has been a great mentor for me. The girls have seemed to grasp it right from the start. I think I already had their respect. They enjoy playing for Jeremy and myself, and it is good I stayed a part of the program.”

Freshman Isabelle Heckman a midfielder who played one season under Groves mimics the words of her new head coach, believing that everyone is taking the transition well.

“Everyone seems to be taking the transition well,” said sophomore midfielder Izzy Heckman. “It helped that Lodge was the assistant coach beforehand.”

The Racer soccer team is in the midst of their spring season, where they have gotten the chance to practice, scrimmage teams and acclimate to new rosters in order to hone their skills for the fall schedule. Lodge said he’s very pleased with his team’s performance and feels that his players have responded well to losing the all-time leading goal scorer in Withers.

“I am really happy overall with this spring,” Lodge said. “As far as missing Harriet, that’s part of the game, part of the job. We have got plenty of kids who can step in and help fill those shoes. I think it is going to help us in the aspect of spreading it out. I don’t think it is just going to be one player who can help, we have got Kubin, Myah and several other people who can help.”

This spring the Racers have scored seven goals in three games and conceded just four, with all four coming in the latest scrimmage against SEMO on Sunday. Lodge was happy with the team’s performance early in the spring, but thinks  the loss to SEMO will help ground the team.

“The first couple of scrimmages we did well, we won both of them,” Lodge said. “Today, I thought we got outworked and got out-fought. But I think it is always good to get kinda get knocked down a peg or two, to let you know you are not untouchable.”

Lodge said he’s excited for his future with the team and is proud of how the team has prepared this spring.

“We have had a very productive spring, I have been very happy,” Lodge said. “The spring is always long. You work them hard, and they are out here training in snowy conditions and rainy conditions. They have worked really really hard.”

With a 15-2-2 record in 2017, the Racers look to improve on their record by adding new talent. The Racers are welcoming notable freshman like Ellie Lewis, a fullback from Zionsville, Indiana, Lydia Grogan, forward from Murray, Kentucky, Arianna Mendez, midfielder from Louisville, Kentucky, Marley Hall, forward from Coral Springs, Florida, Cera Prather, keeper from Acworth, Georgia, Abby Jones, forward from Powell, Ohio, Joselle Morché, defender from Lawrenceville, Georgia and Katie Beckers, midfielder from Henderson, Kentucky.

With the 2018 regular season drawing closer, Lodge is excited to welcome the new group of girls to help the team repeat as OVC champions.

“We have got a lot of talent; we have eight kids coming in,” Lodge said. “I expect all of them to fight to play. The 2017 class was very good, every class we have had has been good. The ‘18 class is the one I expect to not only add depth, but fight to get on the field right off the bat.”