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In the fall season of 1998, the Connecticut College women’s soccer program finished the season at 12-5, battling all the way to the Elite 8 in the NCAA division three championships. Following this impressive accomplishment, the team has had scarce success on the pitch, reaching the NESCAC tournament only three of the eleven years since. From 2006-2010, the team failed to put together a winning record. This season, newly appointed head coach Norm Riker has the Camels eyeing a successful future.
Riker’s appointment as coach was the result of a determined search committee which included not only athletic staff, but athletes. Athletic Director Fran Shields said, “Riker is a highly respected soccer professional who will bring a fresh perspective to the soccer program.”
The Camels hope that Riker’s past success will continue here in New London. Before coming to Conn, Riker was the head women’s soccer coach at Wittenberg University, where he led his team to the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) playoffs seven years in a row, winning four conference crowns during those years. “Norm rebuilt Wittenberg’s program in the very competitive NCAC. We’re confident he’ll follow the same trajectory with our program within the NESCAC,” Shields commented.
While women’s soccer has yet to win a game this season, their record is already showing improvement. All three games have been extremely close, the biggest loss only having a two goal margin at the hands of the newest member of the NESCAC, Hamilton. The away game against Colby College was tied at zero until the last six minutes of regular time, before a Colby striker put the finishing touches on a shot, sending the Camel’s home with a tough 1-0 road loss. The UMass-Dartmouth home game was also very close, the Camels lost by the score of 3-2 but both Grace Bilodeau ’15 and Trish Guay ’14 scored goals to tie up the game with only 19 minutes remaining.
Not only has Riker already made changes on the field this season, he has proven to be well-loved among the team. Some of his players describe him as “experienced, knowledgeable, enthusiastic and talented.” According to the athletics website, Jill Cote, a senior midfielder, says that Riker “is eager to take our program to the next level in the NESCAC with his innovative strategies and contagious work ethic. With his direction, he will have an instant positive impact on our team.” On a personal level, Riker knows a thing or two about Camels: his wife, Gabrielle, is a1989 Connecticut College alumna.
The team will take on The Coast Guard Tuesday, September 27th on Tempel Green at 4:30 PM. Be sure to get outside and support Coach Riker and the Camels as they continue to build a stronger program. •
