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Photo courtesy: Eakin Howard

ACSC Women bring a mix of skill with new Assistant Coaches

By Anthony Boscia, 05/14/23, 10:15AM HST

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Photo courtesy: Eakin Howard

Photo courtesy: Eakin Howard

Asheville City Women’s Head Coach Billy Lesesne has announced his assistant coaches for the 2023 campaign. Kendyl Baird and former Asheville player Emory Wegener recently joined Lesesne’s coaching staff.

Photo courtesy: Eakin Howard

Photo courtesy: Eakin Howard

Baird currently serves as the head coach for Warren Wilson College’s Men’s team, posting a 3-13-2 record in her first season. Baird also has served as a graduate assistant at Montana State University Billings and as an assistant at Emory and Henry College for their respective Women’s teams.

Before getting into coaching, Baird played four seasons as a midfielder and forward at King University in Bristol, Tennessee. Baird logged 55 starts in 68 games, scoring 17 goals and collecting 10 assists across her four years as a tornado. Her best season came during her redshirt senior year in 2016. Baird finished with 9 goals and 4 assists, including a career-high four goal game in a 6-0 win against Mount Olive, en route to being named to the All-Conference Carolinas 1st team. She then went on to play in the WPSL with the Knoxville Lady Force. Baird also is the Asheville City Girls Academy Team Director.

“She is an educator. She teaches the game, which I appreciate. I like the things she espoused as far as why she’s coaching and the relationships she builds with her players,” said Lesesne.

Photo courtesy: Hannah Tracy

Photo courtesy: Hannah Tracy

Wegener is making her return to Asheville as an assistant coach after playing 9 games in goal for the Blues last season. 

Wegener recorded a 1.48 GAA and a 0.824 SV% in 9 matches for Asheville last year. Collegiately, Wegener played for four years at the University of Georgia under Head Coach Billy Lesesne. She logged 65 games for the Bulldogs throughout her career, posting a 1.12 GAA and a 0.781 SV% during her career in Athens.

Wegener then joined the University of Maryland as a graduate transfer for the 2022 season. She started and played in 6 games that year for the Terrapins, recording 15 saves in over 491 minutes. She was also named to the NWSL’s San Diego Wave’s preseason roster in 2022. 

Wegener is now the Goalkeeping Director for HFC United.

“Em’s done a really nice job helping goalkeepers grow. I think she’s got a really good background,” said Lesesne.

Asheville is looking to improve on their 3-3-6 record that placed them 5th in the South Atlantic Division last season.

The Blues opened the season at Greenwood Soccer Field on May 13th against NC Fusion, a game that ended in a 1-1 draw.

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