On Eve of Senior Day, Class of 2025 Reflects Upon What it Has Meant to be a Warrior

10/3/2025 7:09:00 PM

The Eastern Connecticut State women's soccer Class of 2025 will be remembered for not only its achievements on the pitch but also for its resilience in the face of adversity. After a disappointing 4-7-4 season in 2023, this class led its squad to its highest regular season ranking (4th place) in 2024, and hosted a Little East Conference playoff match for the first time since 2021. To date, this group of Warriors has made three consecutive LEC playoff appearances. The quartet has also left quite a mark in the Eastern record books.

To date, this class holds the record for most points in a game with 28, which it set last October 23 against Framingham State, breaking by one point the previous record set in 2009 against the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Additionally, this group tied the record for most goals in a game (9), largest winning margin (9), and largest winning margin by shutout (9), all of which last happened in 2009. Moreover, the class tied the 2003 record for most assists in a game (10).

The class of 2025 was given an opportunity to reflect on its experience as a member of the program. Here is what each one had to say:

What is one of your most memorable moments or a memory you will cherish from your time with this program?

Kylie Gentile: One of the most memorable moments that I will forever cherish from my time here is how welcoming all the girls were when I transferred here last year. I have never felt more love from a team than I do with the girls here.

Katelyn Herbert: I will forever cherish the friendships I have made during my time here; this team has turned into a family. My most memorable moments have been all of the team bonding activities, especially the slip and slide after practice.

Keira Rogers: A memory I will always cherish from my time with this program is the bus rides and travel days of away games. Walking around plazas in so many different towns, shopping and eating, blasting music, singing karaoke on the bus pre- or post-game turned full days of travel into exciting, fun days that I always looked forward to sharing with my best friends.

Lilly Simpson: My favorite memory of my time at Eastern was the North Carolina trip with my team during preseason of my senior year. It was so special being able to take a flight and spend a packed 48 hours with all of my best friends and teammates. I was so grateful to be able to experience this with my team. It was also a dream to be able to watch a UNC women's soccer game on Dorrance Field. It was definitely a memory I will remember forever.

What has been the most rewarding part of being a member of this program?

Kylie Gentile: I think the most rewarding part of being a part of the program is getting to play with a group of girls who have so much love and dedication for this sport. It is rare to play on a team where everyone shows up every single day, works extremely hard, and loves what they do.

Katelyn Herbert: "The most rewarding part was getting the opportunity to play soccer at a competitive level while also getting to focus on academics.

Keira Rogers: The most rewarding part of being a member of this program is playing the sport I love while keeping myself active and disciplined. This program has kept me accountable in my academics while helping me maintain fitness and giving me the best outlet for releasing both energy and stress.

Lilly Simpson: I have been so grateful for this program, and it has done so much for me but in the end the most rewarding part of being a part of this program has been the lifelong relationships I have created during my time here. I have spent four years getting to know many different special people, whether it has been teammates, coaching staff members, members of the athletic department here at Eastern. My whole life I have always dreamed of being a part of a team where everyone equally loves soccer just as much as I do and are willing to push each other on the field and then off the field are best friends. Each and every person I have spent time with has been people that have made a positive impact on not only my collegiate athletic experience but my life. I see myself staying in contact with a great number of people I have met and want to continue to give back to the program that has given so much to me.

How has this program shaped you as a person?

Kylie Gentile: This program has taught me a lot from the little time I have been a part of it. I have learned to love the sport again and be the best athlete I could be here. With an unfortunate series of injuries which made me miss out on my sophomore season, and unfortunately my junior season which was supposed to be my first season here at Eastern, being surrounded by endless support, helped me push through to be able to be successful this current season.

Katelyn Herbert: This program has taught me so much that I can carry it with me after graduating. Throughout my 4 years, I have fostered discipline, leadership, accountability, communication, and so much more that can help greatly outside of the program.

Keira Rogers: Being a part of this program has shaped me in so many ways. From our season, I learned time management and being a teammate helped me gain experience as a leader and become someone who can be depended on and someone who takes accountability. Ultimately this program shaped my interpersonal skills, helping me develop my abilities to advocate for and protect my teammates and gain confidence in myself.

Lilly Simpson: Being a part of this program has completely changed me as a person in the best way possible. The biggest aspect of my life that has changed has been accountability. From day one, my coaches and teammates have held me responsible for my actions, pushing me to do my best in everything that I do. At first, accountability meant showing up on time, doing well in the classroom and giving my all on the field. But over the past two years, stepping into a leadership role has taken the meaning of accountability to an entirely new level. I have learned that my actions do not just impact me, but they impact the entire program and everyone apart of the program. I have to set an example, not just for my own performance but for all of my teammates. I've learned to hold a standard that inspires others and encourages all of us to push each other whether that is on the field weight room or how we carry ourselves off the pitch. This has really bled into other aspects of my life and has allowed me to be more accountable with everything that I do.

What is a life lesson that you learned during your time with this program?

Kylie Gentile: I think one life lesson I have learned during my time here is to not take anything for granted. To show up everyday and to do the best you can do, because time flies too quickly to not enjoy what you love to do.

Katelyn Herbert: During my time with this program, I learned to embrace setbacks and just adjust to them instead of quitting. Whether that was undergoing a serious injury, or missing an open goal to impact the game, I learned to use that to bounce back stronger.

Keira Rogers: Throughout my career in this program, I learned two major life lessons. As a walk-on who was originally not on the roster but got called upon later in the season, overcoming adversity, pursuing my goal of getting better and showing why I deserved this position, I learned that if you keep your head down and always work hard that determination truly pays off. Second to that, I learned how to not take things for granted and how to live in the moment. Adapting from losing soccer to gaining it back, in addition to only having two seasons to spend with my sister, I learned how not to be present and savor it while it lasts, making the most of my time with her, all my teammates and the sport itself. This lesson has continued to carry me through my time in the program, helping me embrace every challenge and celebrate every success because we only get four years as college athletes, and I refuse to leave with regrets, only remarkable memories.

Lilly Simpson: The biggest life lesson I have learned during my time in the program is that culture is the most important factor in any environment that I am a part of. From my first year with the team, Coach Tompkins has constantly emphasized how a good team culture sets the foundation for everything. Over my four years, I have been part of teams that have continued to prioritize and change the culture, and I have been able to see firsthand how it influences behavior, accountability and teamwork. Culture sets the standard for what is right and wrong, how teammates interact on and off the field as well as the work rate standard that is being set. I have also learned how culture doesn't just happen overnight. It requires constant work and dedication from many different people that all share a common goal of creating an environment where people can continue to get better and improve. It even takes pushing each other outside of their comfort zone and doing hard things even when no one is watching. In my final season as a part of the women's soccer team I have witnessed how a great team culture, which we have now, allows for players to constantly compete and work hard on the pitch and then off the pitch are best friends.

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