Chemistry isn't limited to just a classroom, commitment and effort seem to be a powerful mixture the Stetson women's soccer team has concocted during pre-season leading up to the start of the 2022 campaign.
 
As students have recently been settling into their dorms and becoming acquainted with others, the women's soccer team has been putting in the work, both on and off the field, to prepare for the start of their season.
 
"It's been a great time for our team to get together and really bond before the season hits," junior captain Sarah Grimmett said. "I am really grateful for coming into such a welcoming team."
 
The team makes it a priority to carry a welcoming atmosphere that allows for the players to feel accepted and at home.
 
"Everyone is super supportive and wants the best for each other," Grimmett said. "We are all just best friends on and off the field."
 
This type of environment is especially important to the incoming freshman. It's not only a team, but a second family away from home. They came into the pre-season determined. and took their physical fitness seriously over the summer.
 
"It's great to have new faces, they bring a lot of new talent to the team, and they come in with an amazing work ethic," junior captain Anna Brethauer said. "They want to work so hard to be on the field."
 
The players have seen a lot of physical and mental growth within the team. There is so much talent returning, as well as so much depth.
 
"Every position has a multitude of versatile players who are able to fill the role," Brethauer said. "Every day we practice, we become stronger, and our chemistry becomes better."
 
Having chemistry off the field is just as important as on the field for the players of the women's soccer team. Ice cream trips, movie nights and even military training are just a few examples of how the team strives to have strong internal connections.
 
"Military training was definitely tough, but it was meant to build the team and we definitely came out stronger on the other side," Brethauer said. 
 
During the pre-season, the team participated in a pair of exhibition games. playing against both South Florida and Georgia State.
 
"The exhibition games have put us in a great place for this year," Grimmett said. "We've come in a lot stronger than last year and I'm excited to see what results we will get this year."
 
Though the outcome was not what the team had desired, the girls used that experience to learn and refine skills for the start of the new season.
 
"The film itself shows we learned so much from it and are better equipped to handle certain situations," Brethauer said. "We have the pieces in place, all we have to do now is go out and execute."
 
The Hatters will have their first opportunity to show how far they have come on Thursday afternoon when they host South Carolina State in the regular season opener at the ATC. That match is set for 5 p.m. this afternoon.
 
They will come right back on Sunday with the marquee match-up of the pre-conference schedule when they host the Gators from the University of Florida. That match is set for 6 p.m. at the ATC and has been designated as Youth Day, with special giveaways and promotions for kids 12-years-old and younger.
 
Admission to Stetson soccer games, for both the women and the men, is just $5. The games will be broadcast on the Stetson Athletics HatterVision YouTube Channel.
 
About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program is driven by a shared purpose. It is what inspires, motivates and binds us together. More than a task, a reason for being. THE HATTER PURPOSE is to create and provide an experience of a lifetime through teamwork and relationships to achieve excellence. This purpose is achieved through five Core Values: Communication, Integrity, Excellence, Value People and Commitment. To learn more about the HATS program and our Core Values, visit GoHatters.com/HATS. Get in on the conversation on social media by following Stetson Athletics on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. For video content, visit our YouTube channels: Stetson Hatters, Stetson Athletics and, for live events, Hatter Vision.