Huskies soccer looks to turn a corner after two tough seasons
Trending
HOUGHTON -- When Michigan Tech Huskies soccer coach Melissa Kuhar took over the program prior to the 2024 season, things were chaotic. She didn't have much time to get to know the team, nor did the team get to know her, before the season was upon them.
It resulted in a 6-11-1 season. Last year, the Huskies had as many as nine players finish the season in need of surgery, and the team finished just 2-15-1. But, they did beat Northern Michigan.
Kuhar has done everything she can to flush the season from her mind as she and the Huskies prepare for the 2026 season. At the same time, she is proud of the growth a number of young players made.
"Not the season record-wise that we would have wanted, but you can’t say that there wasn’t any growth there at all, right? I think there was a lot of growth, especially having a large freshman class, (and) a decent sized sophomore class," she said. "There was a lot of growth that still occurred and it’s shown. We had a scrimmage this past Friday, and all that growth that they had over last season finally came through and really shined.
"So, I couldn’t even tell you our actual record. I’ve ignored that, and I’ve taken the growth moments from the beginning all the way to the end, and used those as what I remember the season for. (We) use that as our base, and our stepping stones, to now this year three."
If there is one big question to ask about the Huskies coming into the Fall, it is where will the goals come from? The Huskies scored just 11 in 2025, and sophomore Peyton Wetzel, who led the team with three goals and two assists, is not with the program, having transferred to Indiana State.
The Huskies do return senior midfielder Reilly Lovercheck, senior defender Allison Millina, fifth-year defender Olivia Gette, and sophomore midfielder Karli Koskinen, who all scored goals for the Huskies.
Add to that mix senior forward Brooke Green, who has four career goals, and the potential is there to score.
"I think there’s, in the two weeks we’ve had preseason, been some nice little moments where we’ve seen certain people step up," said Kuhar. "We finally have, (sophomore forward) Abbey Sayers back, who was injured all last year, I think played only two games last year. She’s been playing really well these last two weeks.
"(Sophomore midfielder) Sophie Rater came back, and is finally putting the ball in the back of the net, which she struggled with a little bit last year. Now finally has that next step in her growth."
Toss in freshman forward AK Puryear and midfielder Kivrin Platt, and Kuhar feels that scoring will turn the corner, along with a change in the way the Huskies attack.
"We have some freshmen that I think are really going to help us," she said. "I think we changed the style of how we’re going to play a bit, and I think that’s going to help us produce a lot more in the attack.
"In our scrimmage Friday, we scored four goals. Two of them are off of corners, which, hey, they’re still goals, and I’ll take them, but it’s (just that we) were scoring in the run of play, (and we) were creating opportunities in the run of play. Again, we didn’t have too much of (that) last year."
The other freshman that could push for playing time on the back end, but could also add some offense, is defender Maya Palm who is a little banged up to start the year. With Puryear, Platt, and Pal, Kuhar likes the depth the Huskies are developing quickly.
"Maya’s hurt, but once we can get her on the field, she will be awesome," Kuhar said. "Kivrin and AK have been huge in there for us, and they’re going to add some challenging decisions into what I need to do, and our staff needs to do. They’re battling. They’re competing. They’re showing really good things."
The Huskies' defense starts with the play of Gette, senior Gabrielle Klein, senior Marissa Wentland, Millina, and juniors Amelia Gregory and Bells Vasoli. Beyond them, a number of younger players, including sophomore midfielder Braydin Noble, have carved out playing time as injuries set in last season.
All of them will help keep the ball away from fifth-year keeper Bri Barrows.
"I think we have a solid group back there in terms of returners," said Kuhar. "We’re going to have some fresh faces back there as well that didn't necessarily play a ton of minutes last year, were injured last year, aren’t new to the team. We have our core back there. We have Olivia Gette back healthier than she was in the last couple years. Bri's back in net, but getting pushed by the other goalkeepers every day, but she’s back healthy. We have Amelia Gregory who's played almost every game since she got to Tech.
"Those solid pieces are still back there, and then I think they’ve really helped kind of get everyone else into the mindset of what we need."
Barrows has competition in goal, from sophomore Paige Bilbey and a pair of freshmen in Polly Ambro and Natalie Miller, giving Kuhar and her staff depth.
Speaking of depth, Kuhar has a deeper coaching staff around her this year as well. Jason Dellinger was hired as an assistant coach, with Carter Elmy as a graduate assistant, and Ludesha Reynolds and Sam Trout added as student managers.
Kuhar loves what Dellinger brings to the table, especially given the large number of injuries a year ago.
"I revamped our coaching staff a bit, and I brought in Jason Dellinger, who has a background in the strength and conditioning side" she said. "He has been phenomenal for our program, phenomenal for the girls. He understands it. He understands what they need, what their bodies need, all of that. So, he has kind of transformed some of that."
With the GLIAC remaining a tough conference to win in consistently, the Huskies know they have their hands full from the opening kick. When they get to conference play, they Huskies will host Saginaw Valley State and Grand Valley State on Sept. 11 and 13.
Before that, the Huskies host Minnesota-Duluth Friday and St. Cloud State Sunday to open the season. They will travel to face Northwood and Cedarville the following week to round out non-conference play before facing the GLIAC season.
"It’s a tough one, right? You’re talking four non-conference games against the four teams we played last year," said Kuhar. "Two of them being national tournament contenders, arguably, Northwood should have been in it as well.
"Then we open conference with Saginaw and GV. Let’s hit some big ones right off the top."
With more experience this season, the Huskies will look to get closer to being the team Kuhar believes they can be.