BLINN FINE-TUNING WINNING FORMULA WITH BIG 2025 IN ITS SIGHTS
The Buccaneers finished 7-7-1 overall and placed second in the Region 14 South division in 2024
After qualifying for the playoffs, Alexandria Jackson and her returning sophomore class believe the 2024 Blinn College women’s soccer season was a success. The head coach and the Buccaneers also believe 2025 could be even better.
Blinn sets sail on a new season when it hosts No. 16 Hill College at 7 p.m. on Friday at Rankin Field at Hohlt Park in Brenham, Texas.
“There’s one big step forward to take and right now that’s consistency,” said Jackson, now in her fourth season as Blinn’s head coach. “Whether that means being ranked and staying ranked, beating good teams regularly, or being considered one of the best teams not only in Region 14 but also in the NJCAA, we want to take the next step.”
Jackson said a bigger 2025 could be in store as the program has emphasized team building and a greater attention to detail.
“You have to do the right things to win, and sometimes last season we were skipping that part of the process,” Jackson explained. “That means more film study, more conversations with our players about their individual performances, and being dedicated to improving every day. It’s becoming more about ‘what do we need to do to win,’ rather than just wanting to win.”
Jackson recruited a hefty freshman class of 17 freshmen to join eight returning sophomores and four sophomore transfers. That group looks to best last season’s overall mark and 6-5 region record, which placed the Bucs second in the region’s South Division.
To get there, Blinn hopes to increase its offensive production from 2024. The team scored 25 goals while allowing an impressive 19, but the Bucs know developing a more imposing offensive attack to complement their always-sturdy defense is likely needed to compete with a tough array of Region 14 clubs.
Jackson said the Bucs’ offense will be designed around shooting opportunities created by pressure in the final third of the pitch, as well as increased forward production stemming from strong midfield play.
One of those forwards, second-year sophomore and 2024 second-team all-region selection Marguerite Funk, believes her team has the right players to get Blinn’s offense rolling in the right direction.
“There are options on this team that should allow us to have an evenly distributed attack,” said Funk, who scored three goals during her freshman season. “We have plenty of players who are capable of going on runs, and we have the players who can spread the ball around. We just need to finish when scoring opportunities present themselves.”
On defense, Blinn will deploy several fresh faces, including a new crop of goalkeepers competing for the team’s starting job. Sophomore Bethany Sanchez returns after serving as a reserve last season, and she is joined by freshmen Haidlyn Hawkins and Mia King.
Sophomore defender and second-team all-region choice Ashlee Rodriguez said a revamped but talented back line should provide a strong basis for the Bucs’ defense as the team identifies its best goal-keeping option.
“This program has always been strong defensively, and we plan to keep that going this season,” Rodriguez said. “We are going to set the tone with our communication, our skills, and our press. The chemistry with our keepers will come, and when that happens, I think our defense will be pretty tough to score on.”
Last season, No. 5 Navarro and No. 6 Tyler Junior College represented Region 14 at the NJCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship tournament, further fortifying the region as one of the best in the nation. Jackson said the plan this fall is to elevate Blinn’s status to that of the region’s perennial contenders.
Blinn opens region play at home against Tyler at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 28.
Story courtesy of Blinn Information