Comets Women’s Soccer Takes Another Step Forward in Year Three

Year three of any new college program is often a crossroads - far enough in to expect progress, yet early enough that growing pains still shape the journey. For Head Coach Eddie Vongsiprasom and the Western Iowa Tech women’s soccer team, the 2025 season reflected that exact balance: ambition meeting reality, adversity breeding growth, and a young program continuing to lay its foundation one brick at a time.

From the outset, the Comets set lofty aspirations: compete for a conference title, win their district, and earn a spot at the NJCAA National Tournament. But when preseason fitness tests, training standards, and early match form revealed where the roster truly stood, the coaching staff recalibrated. The realistic target became clear - qualify for the conference tournament and give themselves a chance to make a run.

They did exactly that. Western Iowa Tech earned its way into postseason play, meeting the milestone that Coach Eddie labeled essential for year three. Though the Comets exited in the first round, the achievement held meaning: another progressive step for a program still in its infancy.

If there was one storyline that shaped the year, it was physical readiness.

“Fitness set our ceiling,” Coach Eddie reflected. “At this level, there’s a baseline that must be met before you arrive.”

Several returners came in late and not game fit, and while a handful of freshmen met the mark, the group collectively fell short of the standard. That deficit contributed directly to early-season injuries, inconsistent training rhythms, and a constant battle to maintain continuity.

Coach Eddie and staff spent the fall recalibrating workloads, pulling players back from full training when necessary, and prioritizing long-term availability over short-term intensity. It wasn’t ideal, but it was leadership rooted in responsibility rather than risk.

The greatest coaching challenge was not tactical - it was physical.

Unfit players meant increased injuries, which meant inconsistent lineups, which meant a roster constantly in adaptation mode. The staff adjusted training volume, recalibrated conditioning plans, and navigated the snowball effect as best they could.

Despite the hurdles, the team continued to grind, compete, and push toward improvement, ultimately earning their postseason berth.

Not every returner met expectations, especially those coming off standout freshman seasons who arrived unprepared for their second-year opportunity. But bright spots emerged.
Anggy Villena was a clear standout - she returned fit, embraced the captain’s armband, lived the standard the program needed, and even contributed to recruiting efforts. Her maturity validated her leadership role.

Two other players left a memorable mark: Andrea Chiliquinga Haro and Ashley Tomlinson. Their journeys, Coach noted, “could be a movie.” Both battled personal and structural adversity, often with limited support systems, yet remained positive and resilient, finishing their Comet careers with pride. On track to graduate in Spring 2026, their perseverance is something Coach Eddie says he will never forget.

The team’s Most Improved Player honor goes to Lucie Kopitzky, the goalkeeper who stepped forward at every moment she was needed. Battling injuries herself, she became the embodiment of a team-first athlete - playing in goal, playing in the field, giving teammates rest, and embracing every role with humility and heart.

The Comets’ multicultural roster has always been a defining feature of the program, but year two highlighted how challenging communication and cultural blending can be. This season, the addition of four Spanish-speaking assistant coaches transformed the environment.

Communication improved, relationships deepened, and diversity became a strength rather than an obstacle. The locker room - and the sideline - grew closer, more connected, and more unified.

Coach Eddie is the first to admit he has learned countless lessons while building a program from scratch, but one has grown to define his philosophy:
“You must coach the player.”

Meet each athlete where they are. Hold standards but tailor the path. Be firm but be human. That approach - rooted in individualized development and accountability - now shapes the culture he is determined to build at Western Iowa Tech.

The message heading into winter and spring is clear: Recruit. Recruit. Recruit.

The coaching staff is pursuing players with grit, hunger, competitiveness, and genuine love for the game - “good people first,” as Coach puts it. The standard will be set before arrival, and the expectation is simple: show up ready.

Year four will demand more, and Coach Eddie plans to meet that challenge head-on.

The 2025 Comets earned their postseason shot and discovered what it takes to go further. For a young program still climbing, the season represented progress, clarity, and accountability.
“We took another step in year three,” Coach Eddie said. “The work continues.”

And so, it will - on the pitch, in the locker room, and across every recruiting call, conditioning session, and team meeting. Western Iowa Tech women’s soccer is still building, but the foundation is stronger than ever.