The Chattanooga women’s soccer team reported last week and will enter preseason competition this week. The Mocs will get their first Monday at Western Kentucky and host Murray State at Finley Stadium Thursday.
With the season set to open on August 15 at Georgia State, the Mocs need the preseason to get ready in less than three weeks. The team also needs the summer to prepare and many join pre-professional teams to do just that.
More than half the Mocs are keeping busy this summer with more than five different teams across North America.
Two of those teams, the Lady Red Wolves and the Chattanooga FC Women call the Scenic City home.
Five of the Mocs are key pieces of the Lady Red Wolves who play their home matches at CHI Stadium in East Ridge. Three more are members of the Chattanooga FC women’s team including starting keeper Lily Kate Varino, a sophomore for UTC.
“I enjoyed playing for the Chattanooga FC Women over the summer,” Varino said. “It gave me the chance to continue in a competitive environment with other college athletes. Being a part of this team allowed me to train and improve my overall fitness and skills before going into the fall season. So grateful to CFC for this opportunity.”
Along with Varino, the CFC roster includes Hannah Opie, Betha Pucek and Mary Beth Skelton. The CFC Women compete in the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) and call Finley Stadium, UTC’s home field, home. The Nashville Rhythm FC also competes in the WPSL and face off against the CFC. The Rhythm have five Chattanooga student-athletes that include Sylvie Keck, Hannah Morton, Ella Roth, Brenna Swiger and Kelly Tuerff.
The Lady Red Wolves with Caroline, Richvalsky, Clarissa Salinas, Zoey Mize, Sophia Mize and Paige Thomas, are a founding member of the USL W, a pre-professional women’s soccer league.
Carmya Mastrangelo played over the summer for the Born To Be Soccer Club with League 1 in Alberta while newcomer Taylor Morris was with the Unity FC in Surry British Columbia.
The Mocs have 18 days of preseason that include two scrimmages. The first will be on the road at Western Kentucky Monday, August 5. UTC will host Murray State at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 8 at Finley Stadium.
The season kicks off at Georgia State on August 15 and the Mocs open the season at home against Alabama on August 25 with a 6:00 p.m. kickoff at Finley Stadium.
Chattanooga’s non-conference slate also features a matchup in Knoxville on Sunday, August 18 against Tennessee and a home contest against Xavier on Thursday, August 29.
The Mocs play home games at Finley Stadium and admission is FREE. Concessions are available every game and seating is located in the lower chair back seats at midfield on the south side of the stadium.