Q&A With Antoinette Love
WHAT ARE YOUR INITIAL IMPRESSIONS ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE (CAMPUS & OVERALL ENVIRONMENT)?
When I first arrived on campus I was very impressed with the people on campus. Everyone was very friendly and inviting. It was great to see all the construction on campus as well with the renovations to the stadium and a new dorm for Fall 2012.
I love the feel of a small campus and a family oriented community. When I met the athletic staff members and team I felt like I already belonged. I was also very attracted to the position because the athletic department/university is committed to the continued growth and has high expectations for the University of La Verne.
To guide each student-athlete in reaching their full potential as a student and a soccer player, which will prepare them with the inner drive to succeed in the most important arena; life after college. I will commit myself to helping each student-athlete reach their personal goals while building a championship program.
My ultimate goal for the program quite simply is to win a SCIAC Championship and compete for a national championship.
I am very excited to compete in the SCIAC this season. Soccer is a game in which the dominant team does not always win and there are always surprises which makes the game fun and exciting to be a part of. With that said I am very excited we are able to play each team twice which allows you to start understanding your competition better and preparing for them in a different way the second time around if the first result was not what you expected. No matter what conference you are in, if the staff and the team are willing to put in the hard work and compete day in and day out you can accomplish anything. In order to become a perennial contender I will work hard to recruit student-athletes of high character who will contribute to the University academically and athletically. The competition within the team will grow every year, which will result in being competitive in the SCIAC year in and year out.
WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS OF THE CURRENT GROUP OF PLAYERS?
I expect the current players to come in ready to start the season from the beginning. Which entails coming in fit and ready to stay focused and determined throughout the season. If we can keep a high level of competition and focus during practices throughout the season the team will see the benefits as the season progresses.
Since I was hired in May I never competed at the old venue. In terms of the players I know they are very excited to start playing games in the evening on campus. For the entire campus community it will be exciting to have so many teams competing at home on campus which allows members to meet new faces and cheer on their Leopards.
I am most excited to see the development in the players and as a team. As a coach one of my main goals is to help the student-athletes become better every day they step on the field. It will be exciting to see where we are at the end of the season compared to the beginning.
La Verne women’s soccer games will be fun and exciting to watch. Defensively we will work hard and stay organized and disciplined. Offensively we will attack teams with pace, possession, and precision in the final third. On any given day in the game of soccer anything can happen. As a team we will be determined to consistently and intensely compete day in and day out, which will give us the opportunity to win every game.
