By Noah Allison–
For a student athlete, heading into senior year means everything. But rare is the opportunity to have Peyton Siva’s storybook ending of hoisting a national championship trophy at the end of the year.
More often than not, it is the senior’s role to fulfill two missions: to make best of the season at hand and to ensure the future of the program through the leadership and lessons that only a veteran can teach. For women’s soccer this year, the senior class took on the particular duty of building a team of nine first-year players and preparing them for the new era of Louisville soccer.
The senior day ceremony before the Cards’ final home game of the season showed a senior class that persevered. Five girls that in different ways led a young team that needed guidance.
“It was difficult (for the senior class) because two of the five did not play at all (Casey Whitfield and Kim Sharo, due to injury). One of them played with three ACL’s and a big knee brace (Shannon Dennehey). Chiney (Asher) was a transfer, so really didn’t get the three years prior to her senior year,” head coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes said.
“So really it leaves you with Erin Yenney, who was really the lone captain, the kid that had had the four years, a great career and it was a lot for her to do. “What I regret and feel bad for is that she didn’t get to go to an NCAA Tournament, because she truly is a great leader. I just think having to lead so many new faces and young kids is a daunting task. She is a great kid. She did everything she could possibly do, and she’s left us in a better position.
“She’s left this program in a great position to move forward and to see multiple deep NCAA Tournament runs, and we’ll do that.”
Yenney entered the season as just one of two returning starters and the only returning starting senior. Under her wing Yenney took a team of seven freshmen, two transfers and plenty of sophomores and juniors. With a team of girls that were still getting to know each other and Louisville, she opened Lynn Stadium and entered the toughest conference for women’s soccer. Despite the adversity of facing the top teams in the country night in and night out, the youthful Cards managed a 7-9-2 record in their inaugural ACC season and set the precedent for the program moving forward.
“We had a lot (of new players), but you know they really did step up from the very beginning. Some of the older girls are here, but unfortunately they have injuries and couldn’t be out on the field, but they were always there supporting,” Yenney said. “On the field, it was a little bit more. I think I put more on myself to be able to lead during the games, but I think everyone did their part in trying to lead them as a new group. I think we really did build something this year that they can really move off of next year heading into the ACC again, and teams are going to be scared of us.”
As the clock ticked down on the season it reminded fans of the importance of true seniors. For Yenney and this year’s senior class, it wasn’t about making a deep tournament run or winning a national championship. It was about making sure their program would be strong after they move on.
After going 3-5-2 in the toughest conference in the country, the Cards have a lot to hold on to moving forward. With plenty of hard fought losses, the ACC will be returning still a young, but very talented and experienced team next year in the Louisville Cardinals.
“I’m happy about that, very, very happy about that. We’ve got a good young class coming in also. The experience that they’ve gained this first year is monumental for their development and for their growth both individually and for this program, so I’m super excited about our younger players. I think they’ve been clutch for us all year; I’ve said that all year long. So we’ll get to work pretty soon and make sure we’re prepared for next fall,” Ferguson-Dayes said.
For Erin Yenney, the rest of her senior class and any of Louisville’s senior student-athletes, the last lesson to teach is a simple one: Appreciate it all.
“Louisville soccer means everything,” Yenney said, “because those girls become your family, and I’ve been through so many different teams and so many different classes. I’ve learned from so many different girls, older and younger.
“I learned so much from these younger girls this year, and that’s what I told them. Never take for granted the family that you have on this team and the experiences you get. The coaching staff, everything they teach you, not just in soccer but also in life. This means the world, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
Photo by Austin Lassell / The Louisville Cardinal
