The Northern Oklahoma College Women’s Soccer Team opens the 2019 season Thursday at Butler Community College at 7 p.m.
The Mavericks, 8-7-1 in 2018, are under the tutelage of coach Jade Ovendale.
Ovendale served as interim head coach in 2018 but was named the permanent head coach for the 2019 campaign.
She is excited for the 2019 season to get underway.
“We have a good group,” Ovendale said Monday. “The girls have worked hard in training to prepare for the new season.”
NOC scrimmaged at Northwestern Sunday night and Ovendale saw what she needed to see.
“In any exhibition, it’s about what we need to do to get better,” she said. “We learned a lot about our team and we see the areas we need to improve. That will help us as we train for our opener on Thursday.”
“The best part of the night was that we came out injury free,” she said. “We are going to have to stay healthy to have a productive year.”
Last year was challenging for Ovendale as she inherited the job at the start of soccer season.
“It was difficult because I didn’t know the girls and they didn’t know me,” she added. “This year I believe we are more on the same page.”
The Mavs have 10 sophomores and 13 freshman on the roster.
“We have a good balance of freshman and sophomores,” she said.
The initial part of the schedule is challenging for the Mavs with non-region road games at Butler, Cowley College, and Allen County before the Mavs play at home. The Mavs then travel to Rose State and Eastern to open region play.
“We’ll be tested on the road early,” she said. “We play seven of our first nine games on the road but then we have a number of home games as we get into region play.”
Ovendale assisted men’s coach Michael Duroy three seasons before taking over as the women’s head coach in 2018.
Ovendale played for the Mavericks in 2011-12.
DuRoy will serve as Ovendale’s assistant in 2019.
The Mavs’ home opener is Sept. 5 against Oklahoma Wesleyan.
Aug. 22: Butler (A), 7 p.m.
Aug. 28: Cowley (A), 5:30 p.m.
Aug. 31: Allen (A), 2 p.m.
Sept. 5: Oklahoma Wesleyan (H), 2 p.m.
Sept. 11: Rose State (A)*: 2 p.m.
Sept. 15: Eastern (A)*: 2 p.m.
Sept. 18: Seminole State (H)*: 2 p.m.
Sept. 22: Redlands (A)*: 2 p.m.
Sept. 26: Murray State (A)*: 2 p.m.
Sept. 29: Northeastern A&M (H)*: 2 p.m.
Oct. 3: Rich Mountain (H)*: 2 p.m.
Oct. 6: Rose State (H)*:
