Eastern soccer thinks they are up to a challenge

The turnaround has been swift for Eastern Washington University soccer in the previous two seasons under head coach Chad Bodnar.

Now, surpassing expectations seems to be commonplace for the team.

A year ago, the Eagles were selected to finish seventh in the Big Sky preseason poll. However, Eastern won a program-best 12 games, a school record six Big Sky victories and finished third in conference standings and advanced to the Big Sky Tournament for the second-straight season.

"Whether we're picked second, seventh or first, our expectation for our program isn't changing," Bodnar said. "We want to continue to improve the program each season, and with the kids we have returning, and the recruits we've brought in, we should be able to continue that."

With all 11 starters back, including the reigning Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year, Chloe Williams, Eastern is fully expected to compete for its first Big Sky title in 2016.

The other Big Sky teams see Eastern as a legitimate threat to challenge for the conference crown this season, as the Eagles were predicted to finish second in the Big Sky preseason poll in a vote by the conference coaches. 

The progression under Bodnar, hired from Walla Walla Community College, has been impressive. In his first season in 2014, he brought in players like M'Kenna Hayes, Savannah Hoekstra and Williams, all of whom have earned All-Big Sky honors. The team earned it first Big Sky tournament berth since 2009.

After last season's record-setting performance, that core group is embracing somewhat of a role reversal, as they are now the ones with the target on their backs.

"The players we have, have the right mentality for our program," Bodnar said. "Having been here for two years, they know what is expected of them."

Williams, from Spokane's Lewis and Clark High School, tops the group of returners, as last season she was the first Eastern player to ever win the Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year honor. She obliterated EWU's single-season points record with 30 points in 19 games. The forward also set the school's single-season assists record with eight, and tied the program's single-season goals record with 11.

Joining Williams up front is Central Valley High's Hoekstra, who tied for second on the team in points a year ago with nine (two goals, five assists) en route to an All-Big Sky second team selection. Fellow forward Devan Talley from Bellevue is the third forward of the group. She will be looking to improve on a freshman campaign that saw her tie with Hoekstra for points with nine.

Sophomore Jenny Chavez heads a deep group of midfielders. Chavez finished second on the team in goals with four and earned All-Big Sky second team accolades.

Eastern brings back two All-Big Sky second team selections on defense in juniors Hayes and Laci Rennaker. The duo has demonstrated great endurance since putting on an Eastern uniform. Rennaker leads the team in minutes played with 1,810, while Hayes clocked 1,780.

Mallory Taylor will be back between the posts for Eastern after starting all 19 games in 2015. The Canadian goalkeeper finished last season ranked fourth in the Big Sky in saves with 85.

Despite the quality of the returnees, Bodnar has brought in a recruiting class that will challenge for time on the field this season. The 2016 class features 10 newcomers, six of whom are freshman, while the other four are transferring from other colleges.

"Our recruiting class provides us with a lot of depth," Bodnar said. "We identified last fall the positions we needed to get deeper at, and we went out and found kids who could provide that quality of depth."

Eastern has 19 regular-season contests on its schedule, including seven home matches. Their non-conference schedule has two home matches, Friday, Aug. 19 versus Grand Canyon University at 3 p.m. and Monday, Aug. 22 against Utah State at noon.

Paul Delaney can be reached at pdelaneyatcheneyfreepress.com.