Tyler Junior College’s Apache Ladies won their 13th regional soccer crown in 15 years in 2023. The Apache Ladies then went to the NJCAA Division I National Soccer Tournament seeking their sixth national title under head coach Corey Rose. TJC fell to Eastern Florida State, 3-2, to finish the season with a 16-2-3 record.
Sophomore Gabby Thompson, sophomore goalkeeper Saki Tsuchiya, sophomore Kyleigh D’Spain and freshman Jenna Barnes were at a fall sports media day at the CHRISTUS Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute on Aug. 1 to talk about the upcoming season. “We want to just go out and get a better outcome than last year,” said Thompson, a former Whitehouse High School standout.
“We had disappointment in nationals, so we just want to do way better than last year. The key is just having a tight-knit family. We’re going to have a lot of new girls coming in, so it’s quick from the jump that we all understand and get that chemistry in.
” “The goal is winning the game sand helping the team to stop the shots,” said Tsuchiya, who is from Takasaki, Japan. “I think I learned a lot last year,” said D’Spain, a former Tyler Legacy High School standout. “College is obviously a different environment.
It’s very intense. I learned that playing with confidence is key. Being a leader is also very important, because without leadership, we won’t do very well.
Our goal this year obviously is going down to nationals and win it. That’s always the goal, so just doing everything we can to make that happen.” “I’m excited for being a part of the team,” said Barnes, a former Tyler Legacy High School standout.
“I feel like it’s going to be a really fun experience. And obviously the goal is to win, so just to work at that.” The Apache Ladies will host Ranger College in the season opener at 7 p.
m. Thursday at Pat Hartley Field. TJC will then host Miami Dade College at 11 a.
m. Saturday. The conference opener is Sept.
6 at Jacksonville College..
