New season, new faces for Penn women's soccer

There’s fresh blood running through Penn women’s soccer’s veins this season as it gears up for the first game of new coach Nicole Van Dyke’s tenure.

Obviously, Van Dyke’s presence on the sidelines is one that will be unfamiliar to fans of the Red and Blue who had grown accustomed to seeing Darren Ambrose walk along the pitch over 15 fruitful years. But after a season that left many players unsatisfied, Van Dyke brings in a winning pedigree and a new coaching staff that has even the veteran players listening.

“We’re learning new concepts, new style of play, new — it’s new everything,” she said.

Everything new will be on display Sunday at 1 p.m. at Rhodes Field against Seton Hall (0-2) for the team’s home opener.

Another unfamiliar face sure to catch attention Sunday is freshman striker Sasha Stephens.

Van Dyke had high praise for the San Diego native, who scored 103 high school goals — her school’s all-time record — despite missing half of her senior season to injury, noting her one-on-one skills and said she expects to see her contributing up top right away.

When asked if Stephens could get the starting nod in her first game with the Quakers, Van Dyke was quick to bring the focus back to the team.

“You know, starting is relative,” she said. “I think we’re still in the evaluation process and I think, even from freshmen up to seniors, we all understand that starting isn’t the end result. We have 28 players that are gonna contribute, and so it’s just really about how they can impact the team.”

Thus, it appears the group is full of “game changers” who can come off the bench, and it will be interesting to see what schemes and strategies Van Dyke puts on display Sunday.

One star sure to be in the starting lineup is senior defender and former All-American Caroline Dwyer.

For Dwyer, who played for Ambrose at the club level in high school, as well as at Penn, the coaching change wasn’t immediately easy to swallow. But she appears ready to lead the team into its new chapter.

“It was harder in the spring, but I love our new coaches,” she said. “And I know it’s good for the program.”

Dwyer went down with an injury after only 11 games last season and thus missed out on Ivy play. Therefore, her presence will be an added boost this weekend.

Van Dyke applauded the veteran’s work ethic and leadership during her recovery and the preseason.

“She’s worked really hard to get herself back. She’s a great player. She’s an experienced player,” Van Dyke said. “Our expectation is she’s gonna lead the group but I think she’s put those on herself as well and taken on that role.”

Dwyer’s aim is to take the team back to the NCAA tournament in her final season on the squad. Surely that goal was what she was focused on when she was training with ten of her teammates in Philadelphia this summer.

“We all want to leave our own legacy on this team,” she said. Hopefully for the Quakers, hers includes an Ivy League championship.

While a third of the team is new, there were no departures by veteran stars this offseason. Dwyer sees this depth in talent and competition as an advantage.

“Everyone’s still fighting for positions,” she noted. “It’s really just a good chemistry that we’re all building with each other and you can feel that they’re becoming a really good fit.”

Their identity may not be set in stone just yet, but when the opening whistle sounds off on Sunday afternoon it will begin to come together, as the Van Dyke era begins.

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