WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Salem soccer team opens the 2021 regular season on Wednesday, September 1st, when it makes the trek to Swannanoa, N.C., to face Warren Wilson in a 5:30 p.m. contest. It is the first of three matches for the Spirits this week, who return home to face Agnes Scott and Guilford on Saturday and Sunday afternoon, respectively.
Excluding a 1-1 tie in an exhibition match versus Johnson & Wales on Friday, August 27th, Salem has not played a match in 662 days. The last was against Maryville at the USA South Conference Tournament on November 8, 2019 when the two teams faced off in Tennessee in the semifinals.
NEW SEASON, NEW COACH: Salem also heads into the 2021 slate under the direction of first-year head coach Robin Ramirez. Ramirez assumes the role after serving as the head coach at Hollins for the past six seasons (2014-21). He began his collegiate coaching career at Eureka College, leading the women's soccer program from 2011-14. In addition to his roles at Hollins and Eureka, Ramirez has worked on the Club Soccer circuit since 2004.
Ramirez, who was named head coach on August 1, 2021, inherited a roster that includes one senior, two juniors, six sophomores and 11 first year players.
Salem, which did not compete in any sports during the 2020-21 athletic season, returns to the field after finishing off the 2019 season with a 12-6-1 mark and an appearance in the USA South Conference Semifinals.
RAMIREZ SHARES THOUGHTS ON 2021 SEASON: "I'm excited where we are heading into the start of the regular season. The team came in fit and has been working hard all preseason. They are a fantastic group to be around. It has been great getting to know everyone's personalities on and off the field. With preseason coming to an end the team is ready and eager to get the regular season started!"
OPENING THE SEASON STRONG: The Spirits are 10-2 all-time in season openers, brandishing a 5-2 mark on the road in openers since the program's inception in 2008. Salem's four road wins in the last 12 seasons have come against Bob Jones (2019), Hollins (2008, 2010), N.C. Wesleyan (2013) and Washington Adventist (2014). Another win, which came against Blackburn in 2017, took place at a neutral site.
Ramirez, who became just the third coach in program history for Salem, will look to replicate Jay Callahan's 2008 feat and open the 2021 season with a victory in his Salem debut. Callahan kicked off the 2008 campaign with a decisive 5-1 over Hollins on August 30th. Saunders suffered a 2-0 setback to Salisbury on August 31, 2018, which began her tenure in Winston-Salem.
USA SOUTH PRESEASON POLL PLACED SALEM FIFTH: The USA South Athletic Conference's women's soccer coaches released their 2021 preseason polls on Wednesday, August 25th. When the announcement came forth, Salem was picked sixth in the East Division standings.
Each divisional preseason poll included votes from only coaches within that particular division-only. Head coaches were unable to vote for their own teams in the balloting.
Salem, which did not compete in any sports during the 2020-21 athletic season, returns to the field after finishing off the 2019 season with a 12-6-1 mark and an appearance in the USA South Conference Semifinals.
PREVIEWING WARREN WILSON: The match on Wednesday also marks the beginning of the regular season for Warren Wilson as well. The Owls suffered a 5-0 setback to Milligan in their lone preseason match on Saturday, August 28th.
The Owls played an abbreviated season in 2020-21, suffering losses to Milligan (6-0) and Southern Virginia (2-1) in March 2021. Warren Wilson capped off the 2019 campaign with a 9-6-2 overall mark, finishing 4-3-1 at home in the process. The Owls ended the season at the USCAA Division II Soccer National Championship Pool Play, splitting with Johnson & Wales (W, 2-1) and SUNY-ESF (L, 2-0).