Head coach Nicky Adams previews the season ahead of the Orange's regular season opener against Colgate.
Syracuse Women’s Soccer 2019 Season Outlook
8/25/2019 10:09:00 AM | Women's Soccer
SYRACUSE - It's an exciting time for Syracuse women's soccer as first-year head coach Nicky Adams hopes to turn a new leaf on the program. Adams comes to the Orange following 15 years (seven as a head coach) at Rice University where she amassed a career ledger that currently sits 34 games above .500, a result of combining technical expertise with preparation for each and every match.
At Rice, Adams led the program to the double-digit win plateau for four-straight years, and she fully intends to mirror that success at Syracuse. The first step in her rebranding of the women's soccer program is laying the foundation and establishing a championship-level culture that will grow throughout her tenure.
Laying the groundwork
"Year one is about buying into the program and setting standards and expectations. That's the most important part," Adams said. "The team is learning about me in regard to how I want things done and how to prepare. To change this program we really have to focus on creating a championship culture one day at a time."
The shifting culture begins with on-the-field leadership. The Orange elected senior Georgia Allen and junior Kate Hostage to head the team prior to Adams arrival. After learning that Hostage would have to lead from the sideline in 2019 due to a season-ending injury, the coaching staffed named redshirt-sophomore Kailee Coonan as a captain to assist Allen on the playing field. The trio embody all that the staff hopes to implement as the year goes on: unwavering work ethic mixed with a strong individual character.
"They're all very different but they share the same goals and mindset. They want what's best for the team and you'll never have to worry about their work ethic or character. They're good people and they're going to make good decisions on and off the field. Those three are going to be a very good wall for us."
Beyond the captains, Adams and the rest of the coaching staff can also depend on a core of players who have fully bought in.
"There's been a core group of seven or eight players that have really stepped up, and what separates them is the consistency they have on a day-to-day operation. Shannon Aviza stepped up immediately. She came in fit and with a mission, and I can't name a day when she hasn't been completely in it. Then there's Mackenzie Vlachos. We're throwing her all over the field and this girl is taking it in stride. Kailee Coonan stayed here over the summer and really worked hard and she' seeing the benefits from that, and Meghan Root stayed all summer and has worked extremely hard too. She is a sponge just absorbing everything."
Acclimation, Strengths, and Growth
Adams repeatedly drove home the point that all 26 players on her roster have completely bought into the culture and playing style that herself and assistant coaches Kelly Madsen and Harold Warren are working to implement. From changes that fans will see on the pitch to the behind-the-scenes adjustments, like a more surgical approach to proper nutrition and sleep cycles, the Orange are going above and beyond Adams' expectations every day.
"The team has been amazing and they have completely bought in. They are doing everything in their power to do exactly what I'm saying and they're busting. It's a lot of new material to them so we're just trying to build blocks right now, but since day one I knew how passionate they were. They're literally trying to do everything I ask. They're a good group."
A willingness to do anything necessary to make the group stronger is what Adams believes is the largest strength of her team, noting that while they're thrown into something new every day and that can be hard, they're all ready to be successful and are jumping on every opportunity to see a positive change on the field.
Early-season outlook
'Cuse has already played two preseason exhibitions this season, and while the Orange lost to both Albany and Rutgers, Adams saw promising growth in the way her side set up defensively and diversified its attack. Syracuse is dealing with injuries up and down the lineup and that hurdle has kept them from pitting 11v11 in practice, but the Orange are making the best of the situation and showing that no one should be betting against them.
"Not seeing any 11-a-side going into Albany made us struggle a bit because that was the first time we were able to put 11 on a field and play against somebody, but we took away some positives. In that week between Albany and Rutgers, there was a huge difference. We lost to Rutgers, 2-0, but when you go back and watch the tape, our overall team defense was just better. We were attacking in different places, and the work ethic was really good. Again, I think the season is going to be about building blocks every game and every practice, and I saw that in the first two exhibitions."
Syracuse plays in undoubtedly the strongest conference for women's soccer, with six of the past 10 national championships going to ACC teams (UNC '08, '09, '12; FSU '14, '18; Notre Dame '10). A less experienced coach may shutter at that caliber of opponent, but the well-seasoned Adams is ready to enter the fray.
"Every team in the conference is fantastic and has amazing coaches. I think it's going to be a learning experience this first year, but we have to concentrate on our team first and see what our strengths and weaknesses are before we look at our opponents. At the end of the day I just want my team to go in prepared and battle."
Supporting Cast
Adams will have help on the sidelines from assistant coaches Kelly Madsen and Harold Warren. Madsen joins Adams from Rice where she worked as an assistant coach last season for the Owls. A former first team All-Sun Belt Conference player, Madsen's presence compliments Adams' philosophy perfectly and has made the adjustment easier.
"When I got the job here I looked at Kelly immediately. In a transition it's always good to have somebody who knows you so well that you can depend on, especially with going to a new place and getting pulled in 50 different directions as a head coach. Having somebody that I could rely on to hold down the fort is huge. She's a fantastic coach and fantastic person, so it was a no-brainer to get Kelly up here with me."
Warren has had coaching stops at four other Division I programs, including UAB, USC, Arizona, and UC Irvine. He was also the assistant coach for California's Olympic Development Program (ODP) and the ODP scout for Southern California.
"Harold is very much a professional coach. He's done this for a very long time and his expertise is amazing. He has so much experience at every level. He's been at a "Power Five" program and I wanted somebody like that on my staff. I've known Harold for 10-plus years so he was the first guy I thought of for this position."
Perhaps Adams' biggest supporter since she's moved up north has been the Syracuse community itself. Since day one, Adams says she's received nothing but support from everyone she's met and she's looking forward to building the level of program that the community deserves.
"The Syracuse community has been overly helpful and so nice. This wasn't an easy move for me coming all the way from Houston, Texas, especially with a two-year-old and two dogs. My husband hasn't been able to move up here yet, so it's been tough trying to find daycares and doctors and everything, but people have been so genuinely helpful in helping me adjust and move in quicker than I anticipated. In just my first game I was blown away by how many people were in the stands to come support us, and by how many people stayed around afterwards to say 'Hey, this is an exciting time for Syracuse.' Being up here is going to be awesome."
Final words
With the preseason over and the regular season just around the corner, the Orange women's soccer program will have all eyes on it eagerly watching to see what direction the program goes in its first year with Adams, Warren and Madsen at the helm.
"Anytime a new head coach comes in there's a reason they've been brought in, and this administration really believes in me laying this new foundation and building off of it. At the end of the day we will always put out a product that is going to give Syracuse soccer the best opportunity to win, and that's going to be through pure passion, work rate, and heart. You will see that every single time, but we have to lay that foundation first."
And at the end of the season, when the final whistle is blown, Adams will judge her first season not by how many wins the team has earned, but how her unit has grown as individuals.
"The most important piece is growth. There has to be a maturity that changes. You're an ACC Division I soccer player at one of the best academically awesome schools in the nation, and we're not just going to show up wearing an 'S' and say 'We made it.' It's making sure that we are mature enough in every aspect of our lives, whether it be nutrition, sleep, or the physical fitness. We want to put everything into it as individuals to help grow the program. So growth is going to be the biggest thing to look at when this is all done."
At Rice, Adams led the program to the double-digit win plateau for four-straight years, and she fully intends to mirror that success at Syracuse. The first step in her rebranding of the women's soccer program is laying the foundation and establishing a championship-level culture that will grow throughout her tenure.
Laying the groundwork
"Year one is about buying into the program and setting standards and expectations. That's the most important part," Adams said. "The team is learning about me in regard to how I want things done and how to prepare. To change this program we really have to focus on creating a championship culture one day at a time."
The shifting culture begins with on-the-field leadership. The Orange elected senior Georgia Allen and junior Kate Hostage to head the team prior to Adams arrival. After learning that Hostage would have to lead from the sideline in 2019 due to a season-ending injury, the coaching staffed named redshirt-sophomore Kailee Coonan as a captain to assist Allen on the playing field. The trio embody all that the staff hopes to implement as the year goes on: unwavering work ethic mixed with a strong individual character.
"They're all very different but they share the same goals and mindset. They want what's best for the team and you'll never have to worry about their work ethic or character. They're good people and they're going to make good decisions on and off the field. Those three are going to be a very good wall for us."
Beyond the captains, Adams and the rest of the coaching staff can also depend on a core of players who have fully bought in.
"There's been a core group of seven or eight players that have really stepped up, and what separates them is the consistency they have on a day-to-day operation. Shannon Aviza stepped up immediately. She came in fit and with a mission, and I can't name a day when she hasn't been completely in it. Then there's Mackenzie Vlachos. We're throwing her all over the field and this girl is taking it in stride. Kailee Coonan stayed here over the summer and really worked hard and she' seeing the benefits from that, and Meghan Root stayed all summer and has worked extremely hard too. She is a sponge just absorbing everything."
Acclimation, Strengths, and Growth
Adams repeatedly drove home the point that all 26 players on her roster have completely bought into the culture and playing style that herself and assistant coaches Kelly Madsen and Harold Warren are working to implement. From changes that fans will see on the pitch to the behind-the-scenes adjustments, like a more surgical approach to proper nutrition and sleep cycles, the Orange are going above and beyond Adams' expectations every day.
"The team has been amazing and they have completely bought in. They are doing everything in their power to do exactly what I'm saying and they're busting. It's a lot of new material to them so we're just trying to build blocks right now, but since day one I knew how passionate they were. They're literally trying to do everything I ask. They're a good group."
A willingness to do anything necessary to make the group stronger is what Adams believes is the largest strength of her team, noting that while they're thrown into something new every day and that can be hard, they're all ready to be successful and are jumping on every opportunity to see a positive change on the field.
Early-season outlook
'Cuse has already played two preseason exhibitions this season, and while the Orange lost to both Albany and Rutgers, Adams saw promising growth in the way her side set up defensively and diversified its attack. Syracuse is dealing with injuries up and down the lineup and that hurdle has kept them from pitting 11v11 in practice, but the Orange are making the best of the situation and showing that no one should be betting against them.
"Not seeing any 11-a-side going into Albany made us struggle a bit because that was the first time we were able to put 11 on a field and play against somebody, but we took away some positives. In that week between Albany and Rutgers, there was a huge difference. We lost to Rutgers, 2-0, but when you go back and watch the tape, our overall team defense was just better. We were attacking in different places, and the work ethic was really good. Again, I think the season is going to be about building blocks every game and every practice, and I saw that in the first two exhibitions."
Syracuse plays in undoubtedly the strongest conference for women's soccer, with six of the past 10 national championships going to ACC teams (UNC '08, '09, '12; FSU '14, '18; Notre Dame '10). A less experienced coach may shutter at that caliber of opponent, but the well-seasoned Adams is ready to enter the fray.
"Every team in the conference is fantastic and has amazing coaches. I think it's going to be a learning experience this first year, but we have to concentrate on our team first and see what our strengths and weaknesses are before we look at our opponents. At the end of the day I just want my team to go in prepared and battle."
Supporting Cast
Adams will have help on the sidelines from assistant coaches Kelly Madsen and Harold Warren. Madsen joins Adams from Rice where she worked as an assistant coach last season for the Owls. A former first team All-Sun Belt Conference player, Madsen's presence compliments Adams' philosophy perfectly and has made the adjustment easier.
"When I got the job here I looked at Kelly immediately. In a transition it's always good to have somebody who knows you so well that you can depend on, especially with going to a new place and getting pulled in 50 different directions as a head coach. Having somebody that I could rely on to hold down the fort is huge. She's a fantastic coach and fantastic person, so it was a no-brainer to get Kelly up here with me."
Warren has had coaching stops at four other Division I programs, including UAB, USC, Arizona, and UC Irvine. He was also the assistant coach for California's Olympic Development Program (ODP) and the ODP scout for Southern California.
"Harold is very much a professional coach. He's done this for a very long time and his expertise is amazing. He has so much experience at every level. He's been at a "Power Five" program and I wanted somebody like that on my staff. I've known Harold for 10-plus years so he was the first guy I thought of for this position."
Perhaps Adams' biggest supporter since she's moved up north has been the Syracuse community itself. Since day one, Adams says she's received nothing but support from everyone she's met and she's looking forward to building the level of program that the community deserves.
"The Syracuse community has been overly helpful and so nice. This wasn't an easy move for me coming all the way from Houston, Texas, especially with a two-year-old and two dogs. My husband hasn't been able to move up here yet, so it's been tough trying to find daycares and doctors and everything, but people have been so genuinely helpful in helping me adjust and move in quicker than I anticipated. In just my first game I was blown away by how many people were in the stands to come support us, and by how many people stayed around afterwards to say 'Hey, this is an exciting time for Syracuse.' Being up here is going to be awesome."
Final words
With the preseason over and the regular season just around the corner, the Orange women's soccer program will have all eyes on it eagerly watching to see what direction the program goes in its first year with Adams, Warren and Madsen at the helm.
"Anytime a new head coach comes in there's a reason they've been brought in, and this administration really believes in me laying this new foundation and building off of it. At the end of the day we will always put out a product that is going to give Syracuse soccer the best opportunity to win, and that's going to be through pure passion, work rate, and heart. You will see that every single time, but we have to lay that foundation first."
And at the end of the season, when the final whistle is blown, Adams will judge her first season not by how many wins the team has earned, but how her unit has grown as individuals.
"The most important piece is growth. There has to be a maturity that changes. You're an ACC Division I soccer player at one of the best academically awesome schools in the nation, and we're not just going to show up wearing an 'S' and say 'We made it.' It's making sure that we are mature enough in every aspect of our lives, whether it be nutrition, sleep, or the physical fitness. We want to put everything into it as individuals to help grow the program. So growth is going to be the biggest thing to look at when this is all done."
Players Mentioned
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