2024 Women's Soccer Season Preview
LIVONIA, MI – With the 2024-25 sports season officially kicking off in a few days, we look ahead at the 2024 women's soccer season as the Ocelots look to punch a ticket to the national tournament for the 3rd straight year.
Speaking of those back-to-back national tournament appearances, Head Coach Ken Shingledecker was asked about what they for this year's team was in regarding to improving how the season ends.
"We are talking a lot about finishing games this year. We gave away a game in the Regional Final that we dominated but didn't score. Gave away a 1-0 lead at the half to the #4 team in the country in the National Tournament. Not just being the better team on the field but being the better team on the scoreboard must be the focus."
In the mix with 8 returners, including 2 All-American's from last year (Tori Kebbe and Ashley Hughes), are a total of 13 newcomers. Shingledecker is relying on the returners of helping guide the freshman down the right path on the pitch. One way to help the freshman? Have the returners get better. Tori Kebbe has been dominate in the 1st month on the pre-season. Kebbe's main job has been organizing the back line and serving as a team captain along side of Sam Guciardo. Unfortunately, forward and returning All-American, Ashley Hughes, has been sidelined since the end of their pre-season camp with an ankle injury. Head Coach Ken Shingledecker expects the goal scorer back in early September. When Hughes returns to the lineup, the Ocelots expect to put one of the most explosive attacks on the field in the country with her, Daniela Alvarez, Brynn Riley, and freshman Jessica Clyde.
When asked about the incoming freshman class, Shingledecker immediately tabbed Jessica Clyde as a difference maker. " She's been elite with her ball striking skills with both feet, has been a crafty dribbler and plays fantastic final passes." Along with Clyde, Kira Johnson and Trista Bird have been logging minute this pre-season on the back line. They both played exceptionally well in the pre-season matches with Madonna and Lawrence Tech. Kaiyah Gromadzki and Kate Shippe are newcomers that both played for Shingledecker at Livonia Stevenson High School. Gromadzki has stepped right into the midfield and has provided speed and strength while Shippe has been tabbed as the starting net-minder and brings all types of abilities in goal. Overall, the freshman class brings in quality depth to the team and Shingledecker believes the Ocelots can go deep into their bench and bring in impact players.
Schoolcraft never shy's away from playing the best competition in the country before opening up conference play. This year, the Ocelots make a weekend road trip to the state of Illinois to take on the #14 ranked Rock Valley College and the #7 ranked Heartland Community College. When Shingledecker was asked about how important it is to start the season off against nationally ranked opponents, he said –
"You have to play top teams in the country in your non-league games. It showed last year when we received an at-large bid to the National Tournament because we played a difficult non-league schedule. We are not shy about traveling to play top programs in the country. All the experience away from home will help prepare up for the postseason."
There is a new face on the bench for the Ocelots as Shingledecker has added Kelly Capoccia as an assistant coach. Capoccia was a premier goal scorer at nearby Madonna University and will pass along her goal scoring experience to the attacking players.
The full 2024 women's soccer schedule is posted here at, schoolcraftocelots.com. Also, follow the Ocelots on X @ScraftWsoccer or on Instagram @schoolcraftwomenssoccer.