Providence High soccer has great expectations with new coach

When Nathan Williams took over the Providence High girls’ soccer program in December, he knew he would be in the rare position of inheriting a team expected to be a conference and state-championship contender right away.

Williams already was familiar with most of the Panthers’ roster after working with several of the girls as former director of the ECNL program for Charlotte Soccer Academy.

After stepping down from CSA, Williams was eager for a new challenge, and accepted the task of helping a Providence team that went 21-2-1 and advanced to the 4A state quarterfinal last year be even better in 2015.

“It’s always tough at first to come in and be the new guy, especially for a program that has had so much success,” said Williams, who followed former Providence High coach Timothy Long. “But I liked the fact that I came in here with the expectations to win from the start. My goal from day one was to get this team to buy into what those expectations.… For me, that means doing all the little things necessary to living up to the bigger goals.”

“Coach Williams made an amazingly smooth transition and got the girls to believe in him and the way he wants to play,” said Providence assistant coach Lasso Meite, in his second year. “Coming in to such a talented team can be tough because you have to get all the girls to work together. This team bought into what he wanted to do and it has paid off.”

Originally from Sindon, England, Williams, 38, moved to California in 2000. He was the executive director of the Placer United U17 girls’ club team that won the U.S. club national championship in 2009.

After coaching with the Winston-Salem Twins club, Williams came to CSA. He led the ECNL program to a lot of success, including helping the U15 girls’ team to the No. 1 rank in the country earlier this year.

Williams also has coached several professional soccer players in his 16-year career, including three current Major League Soccer players: Connor Hallisey (Sporting Kansas City), Ryan Hollingshead (FC Dallas) and Tommy Thompson (San Jose Earthquakes).

Williams wasted no time in helping the 2015 Providence High girls’ soccer team make a statement. The Panthers beat defending 4A state-champion Hough 2-1 in the season opener despite less than a week of formal practice because of winter weather.

The Panthers allowed one goal in their next game, a 7-1 win against East Mecklenburg on March 4.

Then Providence outscored opponents 78-0 over the next 15 games, going 14-0-1 from March 7 through April 21.

Providence, ranked No. 2 in the state, (18-1-1, 12-1-1) beat some of the state’s best teams along the way, defeating No. 3 Myers Park 3-0, No. 13 Charlotte Catholic 2-0 and Ardrey Kell 3-0 in that dominant run.

The Panthers have outscored opponents 88-4 on the season through the May 5 Olympic game.

“It’s weird, because I remember Nathan bringing up the fact that we hadn’t allowed a goal in 15 games, and I don’t know if most of us even realized it at the time,” said Providence High center midfielder senior Ellie Deaver, who set the school record for career goals this season. “We know what this team is capable of accomplishing. It’s been a really special team and feeling all year.”

Providence has thrived on its balanced attack. Deaver, a Charlotte 49ers’ signee, leads with 15 goals, while classmates Michaela Daniels (11 goals and nine assists, Eastern Kentucky) and Maddy McGarry, freshman defender Mia Thillet (11 goals) and sophomore Molly McGarry (nine goals and seven assists, UNC Wilmington) have also made big plays.

The Providence High defense is led by juniors Lauren Ellis (Louisville ) and Elisa Hicks, and sophomore Katie Hickson (Charlotte 49ers).

Senior goalkeeper Anna Dalton and junior goalkeeper Lizzie Wilson have split time in goal.

While winning is always the expectation, Providence’s only loss at this point – 2-1 to Charlotte Catholic on April 30 – may ultimately define this team.

“The Catholic loss really hurt, because honestly I felt like they wanted it more than us,” Deaver said. “We can’t let that happen again.”

After spending most of the season as the No. 1 team in state 4A coaches poll, the Panthers (currently No. 2) realize none of that matters in the postseason.

“When we were on that winning streak, it felt like we were walking on ice,” Molly McGarry said. “Now it feels like we have to prove ourselves all over again.”

“This year, we’ve felt like a dominant team a lot in games,” McGarry said, “but in practices, coach Williams is very hard on us and he doesn’t want us to feel entitled to anything. We know we are going to earn everything.”

Providence’s ultimate goal of a state title will take nothing less than the game-by-game focus they’ve had all season, Williams said.

“We talk about doing all the little thing to stay engaged all the time and that has to be the focus now,” Williams said. “We take everything in a game-by-game approach, especially in the playoffs, where you know every game could be your last.”

“We got so far last year and then it all ended in heartbreaking loss,” said Molly McGarry, referring to the 3-2, 4A state quarterfinal loss to Myers Park last season. “We don’t want to have that feeling again. We don’t want to end this season with a loss. There is only one way to do that.”

This story was originally published May 7, 2015 at 1:27 PM with the headline "Providence High soccer has great expectations with new coach."