WASHINGTON (August 16, 2023) - The 2022 season is one that the Howard University women's soccer team would soon forget. What started out as a promising season for the program, got off to a bad start before its opening match. After all, the Bison were coming off a winning season (6-5-3, 5-3-2 NEC) in their inaugural year in the conference (2021).
 
Alayah Hightower, one of the top goalkeepers in the Northeast (NEC) and HU history, was ruled ineligible pending an investigation on her eligibility status for the season. Meanwhile, the Bison were forced to start the season with two unproved goalkeepers.
 
Unfortunately, the matter was not resolved until late in the season and by then, the Bison struggled as that problem was compounded with a rash of injuries that led to the 3-11-2 (2-6-1 NEC) season.
 
"Losing our goalkeeper was huge and then we were hit by a number of injuries," laments Head Coach Brent Leiba, entering his 14th season. "We were not able to score goals. That was our season in a nutshell."
 
Among the key returnees is Melea Earley, a 5-foot-3 forward from La Mirada, Calif. She is a team captain and one of the best players in the NEC.
 
"Melea is our top playmaker, who has the ability to play multiple roles," notes Leiba, who is the winningest coach in school history. "She is certainly one of the keys to our success as a leader."
 
Earley led the team in scoring with 10 points (four goals and two assists), including a game winner. For her, the key is team chemistry.
 
"We try not to look back on what happened last season," says the environmental studies major. "The spring season and our scrimmage at American University showed me that we have a team, collectively, who wants to have success this season. That was missing last season."
 
Other players Leiba points to as key contributors are Rachel Asare (Tampa, Fla.), Marli Berry (Orangevale, Calif.) and Bre'Elle Dean (Huntingtown, Md.).
 
Asare, a 5-foot-8 junior defender, received All-NEC second team honors after finishing third on the team in scoring with three goals. Leiba calls her a jack-of-all trades. Berry, a 5-foot-6 senior midfielder, looks to have an outstanding season by Leiba standards and Dean, a 5-foot-7 defender, was named to the NEC All-Rookie Team.
 
The loss of Hightower could have been a blessing in disguise because seniors Kennedy Jones (Flossmoor, Ill.) and Jaida Hendricks (Waldorf, Md.) split time at goalie.
 
One of the players that the team missed last season was Savannah Hersh, who tore her ACL before the 2022 campaign. Unfortunately, the 5-foot-3 midfielder from Huntington, Md., suffered a similar injury in the spring and will again miss the season. Even without her in the field, Hersh provides leadership.
 
"There is a different attitude from this year's team," explains Hersh, a sociology major. "The sting of last year's disappointing season has made the team more determined. You can see it in the practices and workouts. There is a determination to not let that happen again."
 
Leiba is excited about the incoming freshman and expects a few of them to contribute this season.
 
"This incoming freshman class reminds me a lot of our last top class with Earley and Hersh," says Leiba. "We expect Samantha James, Mimi Richards and Asia Mickens-Perez to compete and contribute this season."
 
James is a freshman midfielder from Herndon, Va.; Richards is a freshman forward from Silver Spring, Md. and Mickens-Perez is a freshman midfielder from Upper Marlboro, Md.
 
As added insurance to the team's quest for success, Leiba has brought in two transfers: sophomore midfielder Leah Williams (Holy Cross) and Samone Knight (West Virginia).
 
Williams is a sophomore midfielder from Elliott City, Md. and Knight is 5-foot-7 junior defender from Woodland, Texas.
 
"We expect them to come in and start," notes Leiba.
 
Of Knight, in particular, he adds, "After having played at the Power 5 level, we expect her to start and make significant contributions once she gets settled in."
 
During Leiba's tenure, the program has achieved high excellence in the classroom as several players are cited for their academic honors.
 
"We take pride in our team GPA," Leiba expressed. "When we recruit, we are looking for athletes with a certain skill set and, at the same time, they are expected to be good students and have good people skills."
 
He adds that the HU reputation plays a significant role in the recruitment process.
 
"When they come onto campus, they get a chance to see what makes Howard so special," Leiba stated. "We talk to them about those who have been a part of this program and who now receive accolades for their success and doing big things globally."
 
After moving from the Southwestern Conference three years ago, the program has made the transition to the NEC.
 
"Our non-conference schedule is designed to play programs here in our own backyard, who are also some of the tops in their respective conferences," said Leiba. "We feel that after getting our feet wet, we have the talent and what it takes to compete for the conference championship."
 
Howard opens the 2023 season at home when its hosts Elon (August 17) at 7 p.m. inside Greene Stadium. 11 of the Bison's games will be streamed live and one will air on ESPN+ (September 7 at George Washington). Check the schedule for times and listings.

Derek W. Bryant, Howard Assistant Athletic Director of Media Relations and Sports Information, contributed to this story.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.