Staten Island, NY – The Wagner College softball team will begin its 2016 campaign on Friday at 11:00 a.m. in Rock Hill, SC for the 2016 Winthrop Tournament.
 
The Seahawks first face Towson University at 11:00 a.m., followed by Rider University on Friday. Saturday, the squad will take on Appalachian State University at 3:00 p.m. followed by Brown University at 5:00 p.m., respectively.
 
Wagner will conclude the Winthrop Tournament on Sunday in a tilt against Canisius College at 10:00 a.m. before heading back to Grymes Hill.
 
2016 Season Outlook
 
A new era begins for the Wagner College softball program as former Michigan standout Angie Churchill embarks on her first year as head coach at the helm of the program. Churchill is confident that her 2016 squad, comprised of a blend of six talented newcomers along with a hungry and experienced group of 14 returners, will have a chance to compete for the Northeast Conference Championship.
 
"We have a very simple goal this year," said Churchill. "It's to make the playoffs. I want it to be where it is in our control, where if 'we win, we're in."
 
In order to reach this goal, Wagner will have to put in hard work but the coaching staff is confident that the squads' mindsets and approach to the 2016 campaign is as strong as ever.
 
"From the fall to now, I think we have grown a lot as a team," said Churchill. "I've seen our confidence grow, I've seen us work together much better. During the fall, there was a lot of learning between me getting to know the team, and the girls getting to know me, a new coaching staff, my styles of coaching and the direction I wanted to go with them.
 
There was a lot of nervousness and uncertainty, so I feel we have grown a lot together as a team throughout past couple of weeks. The coaching staff can see it in clearly in practice now, they are feeding off each other and working day in and day out to make each other better."
 
The theme of the Wagner squad this year will be consistency.
 
"We have to continue to improve and let our strength be our consistency as a team," expressed Churchill. "We are going to have to be consistent this year. If we can consistently turn out good games and have quality at bats and communicate on defense then we can compete in every game we play. Consistency," she added "is what I am looking for."
 
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