Monroe women’s soccer program aims for another national championship
Currently 6–0–1, the Monroe University women’s soccer team is aiming to reclaim its spot as best in the nation. The post Monroe women’s soccer program aims for another national championship appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.
Black News 
Currently 6–0–1, the Monroe University women’s soccer team is aiming to reclaim its spot as best in the nation. Although Monroe is a four-year institution, its athletics programs compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). In 2018, the women’s soccer team was victorious in the NJCAA Division I National Championship.
In the years since, Monroe’s women’s soccer team has continued to do well despite repeated coaching changes, but it has not returned to the same level it had in 2018. After years with Monroe’s men’s soccer team — winning National Championships in 2019, ’22, and ’23 — head coach Jonathan Avila has made the move to the women’s team, intent on providing the leadership and direction to reach the ultimate success.
“We’re looking to build a program that’s nationally ranked, get to the playoffs, and just have a good team,” said Avila. “We’re on our route to do that right now. The team looks good; they’ve been working hard. The staff has been working hard.”
Avila had a hand in the team’s 2018 championship when long-time men’s soccer coach Marcus DiBernardo and his staff stepped in when the women’s coach left. After a women’s coach was hired in 2019, DiBernardo and his assistant coaches went back to coaching the men’s team. Avila has long wanted to take over the women’s program, and the opportunity finally arose.
“We’re making it happen,” said Avila, who started working with the returning players last spring. “They were thrilled to start a new season. All the incoming players came in and adapted right away. It’s been a good transition. The team is very good. Everyone came with a good mentality.”
The women’s soccer roster is very international with players from around the world and, of course, the New York area. Avila knows what it takes for players to adapt and excel.
“We help them understand training time, game days; we’re able to connect with players through every single aspect because we’ve gone through that experience,” said Avila. “We know the expectations as well. We’re able to work with all our players and help them throughout the season if they run into any problems or issues — not just on the field, but off the field as well.”
The Monroe Mustangs are next in action tomorrow at home in New Rochelle vs Harford Community College. It is sophomore day.
The post Monroe women’s soccer program aims for another national championship appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.
