By: Noah Dombroski, Contributing Writer
There is no getting around the fact that our Lady Lions simply had a tough season last year. The team finished with an overall record of 3-10-2, and just 1-7-2 in the Sunshine State Conference.
However, the Lions cannot be judged on the surface-based solely on their record from last season, as four of their losses/ties came after at least one grueling overtime (two went into double OT), and a couple of late-game goals could’ve been the difference between a 3-10-2 record and a very respectable 7-8-0 record. Anyhow, the good news is that the program has put newly-hired head coach Peter McGahey at the helm of what should be a completely new and improved Lady Lions squad.
McGahey arrives at Saint Leo after eleven years of coaching various NCAA Division I and Division II teams, and he has even assisted the US Soccer program in the past.
Coach McGahey said, “By coming and filling the stands, you are adding positive energy and becoming part of the team and building momentum for the players.”
He spent the last six years with the Central Michigan Chippewas, where, in 2016, he led his squad to a career-best 15-3-3 record. In his eleven years as a head coach, his teams have achieved a combined record of 124-76-25, and he has led a program to an NCAA postseason appearance four times.
Our Lion’s Pride Media Group’s sports editor, William Burns, got the opportunity to sit down with McGahey and ask him some questions about this upcoming season, and McGahey’s responses are sure to get you excited for this upcoming season. Speaking of excitement, Burns’ first question was about just that: “Who are you excited for this year?”. McGahey replied, “There is no one person that I am excited for. I am excited for the team.
I’m excited for all the new staff, and I know we are excited to implement our style and the players are excited to get to work.” Following the exhibition game against the University of South Florida Bulls recently, Burns asked, “At the exhibition game was there anyone that stood out?”, to which McGahey said, “The whole team stood out a lot!
There was so much energy that came from both the starters and the bench, and everyone was very enthusiastic to do their part.” Burns then inquired about the core values of Saint Leo University, and how McGahey will seek to implement them into the team’s mentality. McGahey mentioned our core values of Personal Development, Integrity, and Community, stating, “Character development has always been my main focus, so the core values fit right in with that. Our team saying is ‘we are greater than me.’
We stress community and bringing the team together by holding each other accountable, and we also stress playing with integrity.” Speaking more on the value of Community in Saint Leo, McGahey had something to say to the students on campus who may not have a desire to attend games regularly: “Please come!
With a new coaching staff, the Lady Lions are going all-in to have their first winning season since 2016.
By coming and filling the stands, you are adding positive energy and becoming part of the team and building momentum for the players. Fans need to realize that by coming they are joining the community that we have built and are having a positive effect on the players and the organization.”
Coach McGahey will be joined this year by assistant coaches Dave Phillips and Sarah Leiby. Phillips is a 21-year veteran of the Coast Guard and has been coaching for Florida Premier FC for the last decade. He has been brought on as the Lions goalkeeping coach for the 2019 season. Leiby, a former Division I goalkeeper herself, has four years of Division II coaching experience.
In an interview with the Saint Leo Lions Athletic Dept., McGahey spoke on his excitement for Leiby to join him this season: “Her passion for the game and mentoring student-athletes are directly in-line with our program mission and values. Sarah’s ability to coach both field players and goalkeepers helps us immediately raise our expectations and standard of play.
The team and I both are looking forward to working along-side Sarah to grow our student-athlete centered culture and commit to improving every day.” On behalf of the Lion’s Pride Media Group, I would like to wish McGahey, Phillips, and Leiby the best of luck this season, and to thank Phillips for his service to our country.
Weather permitting, the Lady Lions’ season is set to kick off this Friday, September 6, @ 7 pm on the SLU Soccer Field. Make sure to bring your friends and come out to represent the Green and Gold. Good luck to the Women’s Soccer Program this season and Go Lions!
