Men’s and women’s soccer reflect on season

On Nov. 8, the 2024 season for the men’s and women’s soccer teams ended, with both teams making it to the semifinals of the 2024 Midwest Conference tournament. The women’s soccer team lost 0-1 to Lawrence University, while the men’s soccer team lost 1-4 to Lake Forest College.

The women’s team had previously lost 0-6 to Lawrence during their game on Nov. 2. “Well, definitely, at the end of the season, we had a big loss, but … we came back from it,” said Zoe Kunzman `28, defender. “It was really great to see our team … not get put down, be able to come back, and face what we literally just had faced and then come back and not lose so terribly.” 

Looking forward to next year, Kunzman said that she was excited to see what new first-years would bring to the season, especially new forward players. “I’m excited to see if anyone comes in and is like, ‘I love playing forward’, and, like, wants to score all these goals,” said Kunzman.

Kunzman added that seniors have acted as supportive members of the team, willing to help members of the team in matters relating to and beyond soccer. “They were there to help you with every single problem in your life,” said Kunzman.

“They were always there if you wanted them, they didn’t push you to … talk to them or anything, but they were always … available if you needed help,” said Kunzman.

“I’m excited to play more, and provide team achievements and … become more outspoken, and be able to help the first-years,” said Kunzman. “I know my second-years were really great, so I wanna be able to be that for the incoming class.”

For Ian O’Loughlin `28, midfielder, a highlight of the season was David Zhou `25, defender, scoring a conference goal in the 8-2 win against Beloit College on Oct. 26. “Everybody was hyped up, and was cheering,” said O’Loughlin.

From left: Soma Suzuki points at Jaxon Willoughby after the Pioneers score in the first conference game at Springer Field on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Meilynn Smith)

“It’s their final year,” said O’Loughlin, referring to the seniors of the team. “You don’t really play soccer at this level after you leave.”

Addressing the team’s close-knit relationship, O’Loughlin said, “I can go to anybody on the team, for anything, and … they’re gonna help me out. They’re just, like, people that got you no matter what.”

For Dylan Maddux `25, a highlight of the season was traveling to Minnesota to play against Carleton College and Macalester College. In the game against Carleton on Sep. 14, the men’s team was able to score an early goal before ending in a 1-1 tie. “It was …  I think, a great memory for a lot of the guys,” said Maddux.

Reflecting on his time on the team, Maddux said that since his first year, his class has set a high standard for the team and a consistency that has come to be expected.

“Before we came, making the Conference tournament, for example, wasn’t always a given, but in my four years here, with my class, we’ve made it every single year, which is … a testament to our growth as a program. We’re getting better recruits every year,” said Maddux. “Hopefully that trajectory continues.”

“[Leaving the team as a senior] is definitely sad,” Maddux said. “We’ve done a good job with the program, we’ve left it in a good place –– I trust the guys on the team that are gonna be there next year.”

Maddux, who said he’s ready to move on and enjoy different aspects of Grinnell, added that he would want his underclassmen to explore different aspects of their interests beyond soccer as well.

“I think it’s easy to be kind of wrapped up in just the soccer aspect,” he said. “I think getting out of your comfort zone and trying to explore different things out here, make different friends, things like that, is very important, especially out of season.”