Heidi Axtell enters her 14th season as the head coach of the Cortland women’s soccer program in 2017. She has posted a career record of 129-93-33 and is second all-time in wins at Cortland.
Axtell's 2014 squad finished 7-9-2 and advanced to the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) tournament finals. Her players earned three all-league, two All-ECAC and one all-region award. In 2013, the Red Dragons registered an 8-4-6 record while recording nine shutouts. Six of her players earned All-SUNYAC honors and two were chosen as All-ECAC Upstate New York second team selections.
In 2012, Axtell led Cortland to a 12-5-6 record and its first SUNYAC title since 1991. The Red Dragons advanced to the third round of the NCAA Div. III tournament and tied for ninth nationally. Cortland’s 1-0 win over Springfield in the NCAA opening round was Axtell’s 100th career victory. Five Cortland players earned All-SUNYAC honors.
In 2011, Axtell guided the Red Dragons to their best campaign since the program won the Div. III national title in 1992. Cortland tied for fifth nationally, winning the SUNYAC regular-season-title for the first time since the conference went to one division in 1995 and finishing with a 14-6-3 record. Axtell coached the ECAC Div. III Upstate New York Defensive Player of the Year, the SUNYAC Player of the Year and the SUNYAC Rookie of the Year. In 2010, Cortland finished with an 11-6-3 record after reaching the semifinals of the SUNYAC Tournament. Axtell had five players recognized as all-league performers and one player each honored as All-ECAC and all-region.
In 2009, the Red Dragons opened the season with a 7-0 record, posted a 12-5-3 overall mark and advanced to the SUNYAC tournament championship game. Four players earned all-conference honors and two were all-region selections. In 2008, the Red Dragons finished 8-6-5 overall and reached the semifinals of the SUNYAC Tournament. Cortland had five players earn all-conference honors and one player was named a third team all-region selection.
In 2007, Axtell earned SUNYAC Coach of the Year honors and led the Red Dragons to a 12-6-2 record and their third appearance in the finals of the SUNYAC Tournament in the last four seasons. During the season, Cortland strung together a 10-game unbeaten streak (9-0-1) before falling in the conference championship game. In 2006, Axtell led the Red Dragons to a 10-8-1 record and won a SUNYAC Tournament quarterfinal game before having their season end in the conference semifinals. In 2005, Cortland finished with a 12-9 record and reached the finals of the SUNYAC Tournament for the second season in a row. Under her guidance, the Red Dragons featured the SUNYAC Rookie of the Year and two all-region selections.
The Red Dragons compiled a 9-10-2 record and reached the finals of the SUNYAC Tournament in Axtell’s initial season. Three of her players earned all-state honors including the NYSWCAA Defensive Player of the Year. She served as an assistant coach for the Red Dragons for one season prior to becoming head coach.
Axtell is a 2002 graduate of Nazareth College, where (as Heidi Brown) she earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and was a starting center defender for the nationally ranked women’s soccer program. As a senior, she was named a second team All-American and the Empire 8 Player of the Year. A 2010 Nazareth Sports Hall of Fame inductee, she was a two-time all-region and three-time all-state and all-conference selection. She earned her master’s degree in sports science from the United States Sports Academy in the summer of 2005.
Formerly Heidi Woodcock during her Cortland coaching tenure prior to 2016, Axtell and her husband Steve, the Cortland men’s soccer coach, live in Tully with their daughter, Allie, and Heidi's two daughters, Mari and Kenzie.
