CASTINE, Maine — Maine Maritime Academy Women's Soccer Head Coach Levi Evans shared his thoughts on the Mariners' upcoming 2025 season.
The team returns three of its top four leading scorers from last year's roster, including sophomore Hadley Stoddard (North Atlantic Conference First Team), senior Mayako Brown, and junior Sophia Hernandez.
MMA also brings back nine of its 11 starters, highlighted by NAC Second Team selection junior defender Lillyanna Ash, as well as junior Charlotte Manes, senior Delaney Ennis, and junior goalkeeper Isa Thesing. In total, 16 returning players saw minutes for the Mariners last season.
Eight Questions with Coach Evans
What are you most excited about for the upcoming season?
I'm excited to get to work with our student-athletes this fall!
Returning to the collegiate sideline this season, what do you anticipate as some of your biggest challenges?
At this moment—finding a stapler! I think recruiting the right kind of student-athlete will be a big challenge, but I'm excited to tackle it.
How will you build off the success of last season's team and continue developing a young and talented group?
We will certainly look to build from last year's team. We'll focus on developing throughout the year and competing in the conference.
What are some of the biggest strengths of your team heading into the season?
I think we have really good leadership in place with the seniors, juniors and sophomores. Our freshmen are in really good hands with the upperclassmen.
What do you define as success heading into the upcoming season?
It's not what happens, it's how we react! We'll be prepared to respond to both wins and losses, and we'll also look to succeed in the classroom.
What is the mindset of your team when they step between the lines?
We will be difficult to play against—very sound defensively!
When viewers watch your team this season, what can they expect to see?
They can expect a very organized and disciplined team that's also having fun competing!
How will you go about implementing the culture you want your team to develop?
It will be a slow process. I'll have to gain the trust of the players by showing up and giving my all as a coach. We'll build that foundation throughout the season and into 2026.
Closing:
Maine Maritime opens the 2025 season on the road against the University of Maine at Fort Kent on Sept. 29 at 6 p.m.
