Daytona Dynasty?: A Look at the Daytona State Women’s Soccer Team

The Daytona State Women’s soccer team is looking to build a center for powerhouse soccer right here in Daytona Beach. Their performance last year was by all means very good, going undefeated in the regular season with a 20-0 record and defeating Arizona Western College in the championship match.

But this year’s team is not the same as the last two rosters who both brought home national championships. In the NJCAA, hardly any team bears semblance to the previous team as 2-year colleges are constantly sending out and bringing in new players. Recruitment is a constant, something Coach Clark of the Falcons says is one of her top priorities.

This year does see some returning players, though. Midfielder Destiny Powell is back on the squad and, through 10 games, has scored six goals. Forward Anna Voigt is another familiar name. She’s a local, out of Lake Mary, and has two goals on the year so far.

Yet despite the fact that the roster is something of a revolving door year to year, the Falcons are two-time champions and on pace to potentially win another one this year. How do you maintain strength like that? Through the things that don’t change.

Coach Clark said that they “don’t talk” about their championships. Instead, they emphasize the systems that won them. The Falcons are a team constantly developing, improving, and evolving to meet the challenges they face. To quote Coach Clark, they “respect the past, but represent the future.”

The philosophy of the coaching staff is individual improvement, “getting 1% better each day,” and they emphasize constant growth for each player. Clark expressed confidence in the team as a whole, describing the talent of the roster as “deep” and not just the starting squad.

The Falcons are currently 8-1-1, coming off a draw to Polk State on September 23.  Their next game is away at Miami Dade College on October 6, against the team that has so far been the only ones to dish the Falcons a loss. The MDC Sharks are ranked #6 in the NJCAA, but the Falcons are at the top of the totem pole at #2, lower only than Arizona Western College.

Besides the recent loss and tie, the Falcons were on track to match last year’s performance. Every other game, the Falcons shut out their opponents and recorded at least four goals in each game. Most notably was their game against Eastern Florida State College on September 15, where they bounced back after the loss to MDC and won 6-0. They are working on maintaining the consistency required to sustain that level of dominance and are likely looking to win big at Miami Dade.

How the Falcons fare will in some part depend on the performance of standout forward Susu Roberts. Roberts is a veteran of last year’s championship team, and this season she has been the top scorer, with 10 goals through 10 games. Originally from Kalamazoo, Michigan, Roberts was a 2025 NJCAA All-American and the FCSAA Region 8 Tournament MVP.

Winning on a local level, too, is a major goal for the team. The Falcons are in Region VIII of the NJCAA, along with Miami Dade, Polk State, and Eastern Florida State College. Clark wants to maintain dominance over this region, guaranteeing entry to the national tournament if they consistently win the regional battle.

The vision behind the program isn’t just season by season. Clark wants to build a “national and regional powerhouse” out of the program, the key to which she said is constant contention. Winning games, maintaining standards of excellence, and recruiting constantly are some of the ingredients she said will lead to the formation of a dynasty and ensure the long-term success of the Falcons.

“Dynasties are families, really, and that’s what we are here, a family,” she said.