Photo courtesy of Iowa Central Athletics: Iowa Central women’s soccer returning players and sophomores are, front row (left to right) Valleria Balcarcel, Catie Britt, McKenna Witte and Adar Mangok. Back: Natalie Zimlich, Emilee Neiderhiser, McKenna Hilton, Tori Schroeder, Sydney Hagen and Paige Groetsch.

Iowa Central Women’s Soccer Team: 2025 Season Outlook

The Iowa Central women’s soccer program is gearing up for the 2025 season with a strong foundation built upon last year’s performance. After an impressive unbeaten record in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) Division II, the team now aims to exceed last season’s achievements.

2024 Recap

Last year, the Tritons finished the season with a record of 9-5-3. Despite their successful run, a narrow 1-0 defeat to Iowa Lakes ended their campaign prematurely, cutting short their pursuit of a title.

Coaching and Team Structure

Head coach Jordan Sibenaller, entering his fourth year with the Tritons after a lengthy tenure as an assistant coach in the men’s program, is optimistic about this season. With eleven returning players and an infusion of 14 newcomers, Sibenaller believes the squad is poised for success.

Key Players to Watch

Among the prominent returning players are:

• McKenna Hilton: Last season, she scored six goals and provided nine assists, earning a spot on the All-Region First Team.
• Sydney Hagen: With five goals and four assists, she received recognition as a second-team All-Region selection.

New talents such as Alexandrea Villalobos Van Slotten and Karma McMorris are expected to make immediate contributions to the team.

Season Goals and Expectations

“I’m excited to get started with likely the most talented team we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Sibenaller remarked. “We have a strong attacking group, and we expect to be very aggressive going forward. We’ve been very close to winning the conference tournament the last two seasons, and with 11 sophomores, we hope to finish the job this year.”

Preseason Predictions

The Tritons have been named the preseason favorites by league coaches, a strong endorsement of their potential, followed by teams such as Northeast and Iowa Lakes. Iowa Lakes previously ended Northeast’s four-year reign at the regional championship.

2025 Schedule Overview

Iowa Central begins the season on the road against Rochester Tech, with additional matches set in Illinois, Michigan, and Nebraska before returning home on September 24 to host Hawkeye. The Tritons’ October schedule includes crucial home matches against notable opponents.

Key Matches:

• Aug. 21: at Rochester Tech
• Sept. 24: vs. Hawkeye (Home opener)
• Oct. 11: vs. Northwest
• Oct. 22: vs. Iowa Lakes

Coaching Staff

Assisting Sibenaller is Poppy Goffin, a former Triton captain, who brings a wealth of experience from her playing career at Emmanuel College in Georgia.