All Heart, All Honors: Barry Women’s Soccer

By Litzy Grijalba 

The Buccaneers’ season was defined by their ability to overcome challenges, which was evident in their regular season finale against Florida Tech. 

The Panthers took a 3–0 win on Nov. 5, capitalizing on the advantage after Barry was reduced to 10 players following a second half red card.

Despite the score, Freshman goalkeeper Marlen Hernandez, majoring in computer science with a specialization in cybersecurity, recorded a career-high 15 saves. That is the third most in the program’s history. 

“Even in games where the odds were against us, we never stopped fighting,” Hernandez said. 

Goalkeeper and freshman Marlen Hernandez.

Photo Credit: Maison Clemente

Sophomore forward Ronya Halleen dribbles the ball.

Photo Credit: Maison Clemente

The women’s soccer team saw its 2025 season come to an end on Nov. 10, with a 3–1 quarterfinal loss to Nova Southeastern. Despite the result, the Buccaneers’ season was defined not by a single outcome but by resilience, growth and record-setting accomplishments. 

Nova struck early to give the Sharks a 1–0 lead. Barry quickly responded in the 41st minute when Kaitlin Conway scored her first goal of the season, making the score 1–1. However, Nova regained the lead in the 66th minute, and less than two minutes later, Nova scored again to secure a 3–1 victory. 

Hernandez turned in a heroic performance for the Buccaneers, recording her second consecutive double-digit save game with 12 stops. Despite being outshot, Hernandez kept Barry in contention and finished the season with a remarkable 92 saves.

This made Hernandez rank second all-time in program history. 

“It would not have happened without the support of my teammates,” Halleen added. 

Barry’s women’s soccer 2025 season ended with a 5-5-9 overall record. The team advanced to the SSC Tournament for the first time since 2022, demonstrating clear progress.

The Buccaneers also set NCAA Division II records for draws, including nine total and eight scoreless. 

“We had a very new team with 14 freshmen, so it was hard to adapt and learn each other’s playing styles,” Hernandez said. “But we built chemistry and continued to build a strong foundation for our team.” 

Sophomore forward Ronya Halleen relied on that sentiment, highlighting the mental toughness needed to navigate a season full of draws and challenges.

“It is so easy to focus on offense because that’s what everyone notices,” she said. “But we did not let the fact that we were not scoring goals define us. We just kept playing our best foot forward and staying positive.” 

Defense was an indicator of the Buccaneers’ season. In addition to Hernandez’s standout performance, Barry recorded 10-12 shutouts and consistently limited high-powered offenses throughout the season.

Halleen emphasized the collective effort that fueled that success.  

“Everybody fought so hard in every situation,” she said. “Even if the structure wasn’t perfect, because everyone tried, we could make it work.” Hernandez’s individual accolades reflected that effort.

She was named Second-Team All-Sunshine State Conference. Her 5.11 saves per game ranked sixth all time for a keeper with more than 10 matches in a season. 

The Buccaneers’ ability to bounce back from tough losses became a defining feature of the season. Hernandez described how the team approached setbacks as opportunities to improve. 

“After tough losses, we worked harder,” she said. “We watched film, broke into position groups, and identified three strengths and three weaknesses from the game. We took it as motivation to do better.”  

Rather than dwelling on results, the team focused on controllable details and day-to-day improvement. Over time, that mindset helped the Buccaneers respond with greater confidence to perform in high pressure moments. 

Barry’s success was not limited to the pitch.

Five Buccaneers were recognized for outstanding academic achievement, earning spots on the 2025 Academic All-District Team: junior defender Jenny Skogmo, senior midfielder Olivia Bradley, sophomore forward Ronya Helene, senior forward Katelyn Billoch, and junior midfielder Zoe Dick.

These selections, awarded by College Sports Communicators, recognize student-athletes with at least a 3.5 GPA who also contributed significantly on the field.

“Being recognized academically while competing at a high level is a big deal,” Hernandez said.  

While the Buccaneers’ season concluded with a loss, the lessons and momentum built during the season provided a strong foundation for future seasons.

The combination of talent, resilience, and academic excellence positions Barry women’s soccer for continued growth in the coming years. 

“We are still building,” Hernandez said. “And that is something to be proud of.”  

Halleen summed it up simply: “At the end of the day, we learned to fight together, respect each other, and enjoy the game. That is what makes this team special.”