Women's Soccer | August 29, 2023
Each week, the University of South Carolina Aiken will provide weekly notes. This week, USC Aiken opens the season by hosting Coker on Thursday, Aug. 31.
New Leadership
On August 10,
Adam Kleman was announced as the head women's soccer coach at USC Aiken. Kleman most recently was the associate head coach at Indiana State. He also served as the recruiting coordinator and college camp coordinator while leading team training sessions and overall growth and development of each student-athlete. He also assisted with film analysis and scouting. The Sycamores have racked up 20 Missouri Valley Conference postseason awards under his assistantship and the 2022 season was highlighted by four Academic All-District awards and a State Farm Good Neighbor Award recipient.
Kleman helped lead the Sycamores to multiple program bests on and off the pitch in his third season at ISU. In the fall of 2021, the Sycamores posted back-to-back winning MVC seasons and hosted MVC Tournament games in consecutive seasons for the first time in program history. They scored a program record 16 goals in MVC play en route to the program's second-best MVC record.
Talented Trio With Experience
The trio of seniors on the roster have a wealth of experience and have dealt with an abundance of adversity during their careers. Now, seniors
Caroline Czarnecki,
Jordan Huynh-Luetkemeyer and
Teagan Kersey are the leaders of the team. Fresh off a 7-4-4 season, the talented senior class will look to leave a strong legacy. Whether it's been on the field or off the field, the group has thrived and should continue to do so this season.
Return Of The Mack
Junior defender
Mackenzie Cochrane recorded all-conference honors a season ago. The 6-2 standout has started all 26 matches during her career. Cochrane helped the 2022 team to eight shutouts. Additionally, she's added a goal and an assist in her tenure.
Making An Impact
This year's team not only features a new coach at the helm of the program, but also seven newcomers – all of which could vie for solid minutes. The team added junior transfers
Hailey Crew (GK) and
Burns Brazzell (MF) as well as freshmen
Lexi Bush (D),
Mia Duncan (D),
Carmen Jones (D),
Maggie Oduor (MF/D) and
Brooke Salerno (F/MF).
Favorable Schedule
Although the 2023 schedule is challenging, the Pacers have eight of their 14 matches in front of the home fans. This includes five of their first six matches in Aiken, S.C., beginning this week against Coker. The team is also at home on Sept. 6 vs. Southern Wesleyan, Sept. 13 vs. Anderson, Sept. 16 vs. Lander, Sept. 20 vs. Flagler, Oct. 4 vs. Albany State, Oct. 7 vs. Georgia College & State and Oct. 18 vs. North Georgia.
Covering The Country
Head coach
Adam Kleman's team is one that spans student-athletes from across the country. In all, the team boasts student-athletes from 14 states, including a team-high four from the Sunshine State. USC Aiken features three student-athletes from South Carolina and three from North Carolina. The squad has two student-athletes from Georgia and two from California. The Pacers also have a student-athlete from Arkansas, Connecticut, Idaho, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah and West Virginia.
Inside The Numbers
This week, USC Aiken opens the season with a home match against Coker on Aug. 31. The Pacers have a 10-1-4 (46.1 percent) mark all time in Thursday matches. During the same time, the squad is 2-2-1 on Aug. 31.
Against The Opponent
This week, USC Aiken opens the season with a home match against Coker on Aug. 31. The Pacers are 8-2-2 in the all-time series against the Cobras. The teams are coming off a 0-0 draw a season ago. The Pacers are 4-1 in the all-time series against Coker at home.
