Another women’s soccer season is in full swing at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. With the halfway point in the year fast approaching, the Seahawks have amassed an above .500 record and looks to improve on what they have built so far in the coming weeks as conference play begins.

Coming off a 7-9-2 record in 2014, the ladies are filled with experience this time around with 11 seniors on the team this year compared to only having two on the team last year. The plethora of senior leadership will only benefit the Seahawks from now on.

“We are in a situation now where the majority of the team is made up of seniors and juniors, so we have been playing together for two seasons prior to this and collectively we have a great amount of experience,” said junior forward, Kennedy Ulrich. “I think we have the best idea of how each other play and the chemistry just comes naturally at this point, which makes practice seem much easier.”

The experience has led to several advantageous recently as the team took part in Wilmington’s Hilton Garden Inn Invitational. Playing two games in three days, the Seahawks defeated the Richmond Spiders 4-0 in a Friday match.

It was followed with a performance on Sunday with a 2-0 blanking of the Campbell Camels. This was the second straight year the Seahawks did not give up a goal on defense in this tournament.

“Our biggest strengths thus far have been our variety of players who have scored and created good chances in our offense,” said junior midfielder Mao Jarl.

“Overall our work ethic and mentality has been better than before and we all work hard for each other. As we have played more games our defense has also gotten better and better, and we have been consistent in our back line.”

As the team struggled with defense during their 1-3 start in the beginning of the season, including an 8-0 loss to No. 2 ranked Virginia, the team reeled off four straight wins, including a 2-1 double overtime win over the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. The team gave up only one goal during the stretch proving that they can turn what was once their weakness into an important strength.

“We didn’t defend together properly [in the first few games] and let our opponents score too easy of goals,” said Jarl. “However, this is something that has started to become our strength as we have improved and worked a lot on in practice.”

This year the team has placed their importance on the details of the sport and believes their underdog persona can equip them with several advantages.

“This year I think people have a bit more of an edge,” Ulrich said. “We have always been an underdog team and we have started to embrace that. The details have become important and we have paid more attention to fitness and recovery, as well as enforcing a competitive training environment.”

Along for the ride is Baylee Adkins, a nine-year-old girl who is undergoing treatment for brain cancer. Through the “Friends of Jacklyn” Foundation, Baylee and her family were paired with UNCW’s soccer team. Since she joined in 2012, Baylee has bonded with the team’s players through trips to Chuck E. Cheese, sleepovers, and attending soccer games.

“Baylee has been up and down lately,” said Baylee’s mom, Tracie Thocher. “She has been going through chemotherapy once a week, every week at UNC.”

The team not only interacts with Baylee on a daily bases but they are her strength and rock during these tough times.

“We try to keep her involved with her team as much as possible,” said Thocker. “They FaceTime before the games if she cannot make it. Talking to the girls and seeing them gives her strength and keeps her positive in days she can’t leave the house.”

The team’s motto, “Playing and Praying for Baylee”, acts as a constant reminder of its support for their young teammate. As the team continues to improve over the year, the hope is that Baylee will as well.