Wheaton College hoping to make some noise
The pressure to live up to expectations can weigh heavily on any team. The Wheaton College women's soccer team knows that feeling well.
The Thunder is coming off its third consecutive year of reaching at least the final eight teams in the Division III national championships. It has won three national titles in the last decade. The Thunder started the season ranked seventh in the country and has since jumped up another spot. However, with the consistency of the program has come a steady confidence.
"We are a confident squad," coach Pete Felske said. "We've seen a lot of success over the years. I don't think our team feels pressure like other teams in our position may feel. We take it all in stride. They are very down to earth kids."
Through the first two weeks of the season that confidence has led the team to a dominant start. The Thunder is 4-0 with an average winning margin of 4 goals. The wins include a shutout victory against 18th-ranked Concordia-Moorehead on the road.
The scary thing for future opponents may not be what Wheaton has done so far, but what Felske said he expects his players to do. The coach said even he was surprised with the team's fast start and only expects improvement with time.
Felske added he has been impressed with the way his team has capitalized on opportunities so far but still sees room for improvement.
"As of now I'm happy we're 4-0. I think we can play a lot better. We are coming off a preseason where we had quite a few injuries and we are starting to get those players back," Felske said.
With the program's past success, there is no doubt the Thunder has goals set toward a championship. However, Felske said he knows what goes into a season like that and it takes more than a little luck.
If Wheaton is to make a memorable season of 2014, it is off to a good start. In the first two weeks there have already been two Thunder players named CCIW Player of the Week, sophomore Sarah Fey in Week 1 and senior Alexa Sharkey (Wheaton Academy) in Week 2. Felske said he expects big things from Sharkey this season, along with her sister Sydney, fellow seniors Anna Seabolt, Sarah Guidera and junior Ally Witt (Wheaton Academy).
North Central:
Inaction hasn't hurt the Cardinals' football team. After having a bye in the first week of the season, North Central will kick off its 2014 campaign ranked No. 6 in the country by D3football.com.
The Cardinals come off their winningest season in program history, going 13-1 and reaching the Division III national semifinals for the first time in program history. If the team wishes to return there, the Cardinals will do it without last season's star quarterback Spencer Stanek, who graduated.
While Stanek received the bulk of snaps, two returning quarterbacks did see playing time last season in late-game blowout situations. Junior Tyler Dicken and Dylan Warden return with experience.
The Cardinals will start the season on the road Saturday. North Central will travel north to play Norbert College. The Cardinals will have the home opener the following week against No. 8 ranked University of Wisconsin-Platteville.
North Central is one of three CCIW teams to be ranked to start the season. Joining the Cardinals are No. 20 Wheaton College and No. 21 Illinois Wesleyan, whom the Cardinals play in back-to-back weeks. Wheaton on the road, followed by a home game against Illinois Wesleyan.