Spartan Women's Soccer Team Shares Insight on 2016 Conference Season

Two members of the MiraCosta College women's soccer team took part in a Q&A this week where they discussed some of the details of the upcoming Pacific Coast Athletic Conference North conference season. Find out what sophomores Savannah McInerny (Fallbrook, Calif.) and Peyton Brittain (Fallbrook, Calif.), along Head Coach Miguel Barragan, look forward to in their answers below.

The Conference slate will begin for MiraCosta at home on Tuesday, September 20, against neighboring Palomar College. 

What are you looking forward to most about the upcoming season?

McInerny: Our team this year is very excited for conference to start. The past weeks we have been putting in a lot of hard work to get fit and build team chemistry. We are looking forward to growing as a family as well as walking away from games with positive results. 

Barragan: The upcoming conference season will be exciting and very competitive with the new additions of San Bernardino Valley and College of the Desert to our division. It has been extremely competitive the last few seasons for the top spot, and I am anxious to see how the new teams will add to the mix.

Is there a certain game or stretch of games you look forward to? I.E. a game close to your family/home, a game against a rival, a game against someone you know, etc.

Barragan: We open conference at home on September 20 at 4 p.m. versus our local rivals Palomar. That is always an exciting and emotional match. In addition, the matches versus Miramar have always been extremely competitive and fun to watch.

McInerny: We definitely look forward to the rivalry matches we have against Palomar. 

Where do you see the team finishing in the conference?

Barragan: We have a core of talented girls, with some great additions that complement last year's returners. Our conference goal yesterday, today and tomorrow is to always compete for the conference title.

McInerny: This season I see our team finishing toward the top spots of the conference rankings.  

What are your personal goals this season?

Barragan: My personal goals are to convey our message clearly to players, that we get the very best out every single one of them, and that we help instill and develop a competitive spirit.

Brittain: My personal goal for this season is to improve as a player. If I continue to improve, I can help other players around me and ultimately help our team have a successful season. 

What are the team's goals this season?

McInerny: Our team goals this season are to be respectful, competitive, committed, and determined players. With that we want to win conference, get two wins against Palomar, and compete in playoffs. 

Barragan: To improve our overall standing from previous seasons and earn a spot in the postseason state playoffs.

What do you see as the biggest challenge/obstacle to overcome this season?

Brittain: I think the biggest obstacle to overcome this season will be building team chemistry. We always have a talented team but when you only have two years here it can be hard to mesh well, but so far I think we are working well together. 

Barragan: Obstacles are normally injuries and getting players back as soon as possible. We work closely with our athletic trainers to ensure that happens and they do an awesome job with our athletes.

What can/should fans look forward to when they come to see you play?

Barragan: We always appreciate the great support that we receive from our fans (family, friends and MiraCosta students and administrators). We typically get a great turn out at our home matches, and we always look to play our very best and create a fun enjoyable match for them.

Brittain: Fans can look forward to seeing exciting games when come watch us. We have a lot of individual talent on this team, and when we put it all together, it is great to watch.

What will be the key to success for the team this season?

Brittain: The key to success for our team this season will be working hard. It does not matter how good your team is, you can be the best team in the world, but even the best teams fall when they fail to put in the work. 

Barragan: A determined attitude and family love for each other.