Within seconds after Mary Cardone saved a penalty kick to deliver the Southwestern University Pirates women's soccer program's first SCAC Championship, tennis head coach Billy Porter gave his dual sport star a hug and a word.
"I told her congrats but you're only halfway done," Porter said. "She's the greatest player in school history, men or women's side, you can't dispute that. She understands what's at stake and we look forward to her having a great senior year."
At stake is, perhaps, the program's best chance since 2018 for its first SCAC Championship. Standing in the way, as always, is Trinity; winners of the past eight championships.
Trinity enters the season ranked No. 18 in the ITA Division III national preseason rankings. Southwestern follows a few spots back where it left off last season, clocking in at No. 22 in the nation, its highest ranking to start a season.
"Until we beat them, it's Trinity's to lose," Porter said. "Talent isn't enough. Looking at the matchups on paper, we have the talent, but you have to produce in the moments that matter and not let those moments become too big."
While Cardone took center stage in her fall sport, seizing victory in the biggest moment, Nina Mitrofanova did the same in her first collegiate tennis action, winning the ITA Fall Regional Championship as a first year by defeating two regionally ranked opponents, including the defending ITA Fall Regional Champion, ETBU's Elisa Kendall.
"She's probably the most driven player we have on the team. I can't tell you how many times I've come to work at 8:30 in the morning and she's on the court by herself hitting serves, running sprints, or on the ball machine," Porter said. "She's the epitome of working when others don't see you."
Mitrofanova's victory earned her All-American status and the No. 18 individual singles ranking in Division III women's tennis. She joins Cardone, who earned All-American status last year by getting through the first round of the NCAA Tournament, and Esther Bowers—a doubles All-American in 2017 after winning that ITA Regional—as the team's trio of All-Americans.
Cardone is on pace to break Nicole Wilson's record for career wins (131) set in 2017 with a career record of 103-22. Bowers, a junior with a career record of 71-30, has a chance to eventually surpass Cardone.
"I think we have a very interesting dynamic simply based on the fact we have the No. 18 player in the country and one could argue she's not even the best player on the team," Porter said. "We have three No. 1 players and it's just a matter of where they fit and what's going to be best for the team. The way we manage those three at the top is going to be a key to our success this year."
According to Porter, last year's team punched above its weight in earning its No. 22 ranking, finding ways to play above its talent level in pulling out victories over nationally-ranked Gustavus Adolphus College, University of Mary Washington, and Bates College. With that team returning intact a year better and the No. 20-ranked recruiting class in the country in Mitrofanova, Taylor Despriet, Emma Kesterson, and Alli Ziehm, the Pirates have an opportunity to do more.
"Last year, we found ways to win big matches and that's fantastic," Porter said. "This year's team is loaded with talent and it feels like a top 20 team. So, we didn't lose any pieces and added the No. 20-ranked recruiting class in the country, which included an All-American."
In addition to Trinity (18) in conference, the Pirates will have a few opportunities to build a case for climbing the national rankings with a slate of nationally-ranked opponents, including California Institute of Technology (21), Bowdoin College (11), Pomona-Pitzer Colleges (5), and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges (2).
"The women don't have as many opportunities in their schedule as the men but they're going to have their chances and they need to capitalize on them," Porter said. "We've targeted Cal Tech as a good match. Bowdoin might be a bit of a stretch but it's an opportunity for us to move, along with Trinity. Pomona-Pitzer and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps might be a little above our level now but they're good for our strength of schedule and preparation for the matches we need."
The most obvious needed match remains Trinity, who continue to swing their championship matches with Southwestern in doubles, sweeping the Pirates 3-0 last season.
"Doubles is going to be big. Even as good as we are in singles, where we might be favored, climbing out of a 3-0 hole is a big ask," Porter said. "So, we've got to find a way to get one double match in that final. If we can get two, it'll put us in a really good spot."
In the Fall ITA Regionals, Bowers and Mitrofanova defeated Trinity's Debauge and Markiewicz and eventually advanced to the semifinals in doubles before losing to Trinity's Kaffen sisters.
To advance, in addition to its three top players, the Pirates will need to lean on second senior and team captain Cecile Wilde, who played in the No. 1 spot alongside Bowers last season, picking up a 13-4 record while going 9-3 in singles form the No. 5 spot.
"Cecile was a part of that No. 21-ranked 2016 recruiting class, so she came in with high expectations and she hasn't disappointed," Porter said. "She's been a three-year starter for us and we expect her to play a huge role in our doubles lineup, probably even more than our singles.
"I think the biggest thing with her is her leadership. She's taken a huge step from being a junior captain to a senior captain and now has help from [fellow captain] first year Alli Ziehm. She has value on the court but the path to a championship probably goes through her leadership."
Adding depth are returners All-SCAC junior Mariana Quetzeri, Nina Elez, Sara Le, Meeshti Shethia, and Chandler Vrba, who've all had success at different points in their Pirate careers.
"We recruited every player on this roster to come here and do what no one has ever done before, which is to win a team championship," Porter said. "We have players, like Mary, who have won individual awards. But I think she'd gladly sacrifice those if it meant the team won a conference championship."
Opportunities are lined up and the talent is available. But to steal a line from Porter, that only gets a team halfway there.