Staying Close To Home
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Anthony [email protected]
This year's Grace College women's team features three local products, while the men's squad bolsters 10 guys from Warsaw Community High School and Lakeland Christian Academy.[[In-content Ad]]"I went to at least five games at Warsaw and two at LCA," Grace College men's soccer coach Matt Hotchkin said. "We're not just trying to get them because they're local. They just fit what we're looking for. We want to be a destination for local talent. We want them to see Grace College and want to be a part of it."
Local members of Hotchkin's squad include senior Adam Churchill; juniors Jordan Sharp, Kyle Petty and Adam Kitchens; sophomore Justin Evans and freshmen Trenton Porter, Nathan Zuercher, Aaron Zuercher, Sam Cole and Colton Streeter.
Senior Amy Abbitt is joined by a fellow Warsaw graduate in freshman Jocelyn Evans on the women's team, while LCA-grad Kristin Yocum is also a part of the Lady Lancers.
"It's neat to see players from Warsaw on the team," Abbitt said. "I played with Jocelyn at Warsaw, and now I get to see how she develops as a player in college."
Another person watching Jocelyn is older brother Justin, who graduated from Warsaw as an all-Northern Lakes Conference goalkeeper.
"I do enjoy being able to see my younger sister play, and see she's doing well," Justin said. "She's really done a good job of stepping into her role, and is trying to make a difference on the team."
Justin and Jocelyn followed the lead of older sister Audrey to the Grace soccer program, but Jocelyn says it was never set in stone where she'd go.
"There was no pressure to go to Grace," she said. "Everything just kind of fit here, and I just felt led here. It was a place I wanted to be in order to play for God."
The spiritual nature at Grace also led Jocelyn's new teammate, Yocum to Grace.
"Even though I lived nearby, I still spent a couple days with the girls on recruiting trips," the LCA-product said. "It was really comfortable and the girls really play for God and give him the glory."
As a Lancers freshman, Yocum will also get the opportunity to do something she couldn't do last year - play against girls.
During her senior year in high school, LCA didn't have a girls team, meaning she and teammate Jamie Duchane played with the boys.
"I'll get the opportunity to be on the field a lot more," she said. "Plus, I'll be playing against girls on my level."
After a year of being pushed around by guys, Yocum is looking forward to the prospect of playing girls.
"I can beat on them instead," she said.
The Grace men will also be looking to beat on their opposition.
The Lancers finished last season at 7-11 and 3-5 in the Mid-Central Conference, which was an improvement over previous years.
Now, with a lot of new faces, the team is hoping to continue winning games.
"I have high expectations for the team, and for myself," Churchill said. "Personally, I'd like to think we can win the conference."
And with so many players coming from a Warsaw Tigers team that experienced recent success, including a semistate berth last year, a winning attitude can only be good for the Lancer program.
"All the games in college are tough," Justin Evans said. "But with the guys we're getting from Warsaw, I think they can make a difference at Grace."
One of those players is Porter, who was drawn to Grace by Hotchkin's enthusiasm.
"I got to talking with coach Hotchkin and we really hit it off," Porter said. "He just pours everything into the team. That really attracted me here."
Well, that and going to school where you can still run home to do laundry and get a home-cooked meal.
"It's nice to be able to go home for food," Jocelyn Evans said.
The food also kept Porter close to home. That, and his mom.
"I kind of wanted to go somewhere farther away, but my mom said I couldn't be more than three hours away," he said. "But it's nice to know you can go home anytime, and you're not totally on your own."
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This year's Grace College women's team features three local products, while the men's squad bolsters 10 guys from Warsaw Community High School and Lakeland Christian Academy.[[In-content Ad]]"I went to at least five games at Warsaw and two at LCA," Grace College men's soccer coach Matt Hotchkin said. "We're not just trying to get them because they're local. They just fit what we're looking for. We want to be a destination for local talent. We want them to see Grace College and want to be a part of it."
Local members of Hotchkin's squad include senior Adam Churchill; juniors Jordan Sharp, Kyle Petty and Adam Kitchens; sophomore Justin Evans and freshmen Trenton Porter, Nathan Zuercher, Aaron Zuercher, Sam Cole and Colton Streeter.
Senior Amy Abbitt is joined by a fellow Warsaw graduate in freshman Jocelyn Evans on the women's team, while LCA-grad Kristin Yocum is also a part of the Lady Lancers.
"It's neat to see players from Warsaw on the team," Abbitt said. "I played with Jocelyn at Warsaw, and now I get to see how she develops as a player in college."
Another person watching Jocelyn is older brother Justin, who graduated from Warsaw as an all-Northern Lakes Conference goalkeeper.
"I do enjoy being able to see my younger sister play, and see she's doing well," Justin said. "She's really done a good job of stepping into her role, and is trying to make a difference on the team."
Justin and Jocelyn followed the lead of older sister Audrey to the Grace soccer program, but Jocelyn says it was never set in stone where she'd go.
"There was no pressure to go to Grace," she said. "Everything just kind of fit here, and I just felt led here. It was a place I wanted to be in order to play for God."
The spiritual nature at Grace also led Jocelyn's new teammate, Yocum to Grace.
"Even though I lived nearby, I still spent a couple days with the girls on recruiting trips," the LCA-product said. "It was really comfortable and the girls really play for God and give him the glory."
As a Lancers freshman, Yocum will also get the opportunity to do something she couldn't do last year - play against girls.
During her senior year in high school, LCA didn't have a girls team, meaning she and teammate Jamie Duchane played with the boys.
"I'll get the opportunity to be on the field a lot more," she said. "Plus, I'll be playing against girls on my level."
After a year of being pushed around by guys, Yocum is looking forward to the prospect of playing girls.
"I can beat on them instead," she said.
The Grace men will also be looking to beat on their opposition.
The Lancers finished last season at 7-11 and 3-5 in the Mid-Central Conference, which was an improvement over previous years.
Now, with a lot of new faces, the team is hoping to continue winning games.
"I have high expectations for the team, and for myself," Churchill said. "Personally, I'd like to think we can win the conference."
And with so many players coming from a Warsaw Tigers team that experienced recent success, including a semistate berth last year, a winning attitude can only be good for the Lancer program.
"All the games in college are tough," Justin Evans said. "But with the guys we're getting from Warsaw, I think they can make a difference at Grace."
One of those players is Porter, who was drawn to Grace by Hotchkin's enthusiasm.
"I got to talking with coach Hotchkin and we really hit it off," Porter said. "He just pours everything into the team. That really attracted me here."
Well, that and going to school where you can still run home to do laundry and get a home-cooked meal.
"It's nice to be able to go home for food," Jocelyn Evans said.
The food also kept Porter close to home. That, and his mom.
"I kind of wanted to go somewhere farther away, but my mom said I couldn't be more than three hours away," he said. "But it's nice to know you can go home anytime, and you're not totally on your own."
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