The Corry girls soccer team has been scoring huge wins in their recent games. The girls are currently sitting with 7 wins, one tie, and one loss. The Lady Beavers have combined both their talent and dedication to help carry them throughout their games. Fans cannot help but notice the change in momentum from last year to this year. It’s as though the Lady Beavers have completely remade a name for themselves in the soccer world, and are out to claim a region banner in soccer for the first time in beaver lady history.
The momentum started for the athletes during their first game against Iroqious on August 26. The Lady Beavers blew through them with a final score of 5-0. Since then, the Lady Beavers have only had one loss and one tie out of their nine games this season. The desire for a banner in the gym is evident among these players, with their dedication and hard work showing all that they’re capable of.
Keira Knight, a first-time Lady Beaver soccer player, was asked how she is liking soccer. To that, she responded with, “I really like soccer in general. I like soccer because it’s a whole new type of sport, so it’s fun to try something different.”
When also asked how she liked the team, Knight said, “I love the team, they made me feel a part of their family.”
Baylee Smith, one of the captains of the soccer team, noted how “fluidity is really nice for me to see, who is capable of seeing the entire field because of my position. So when I see girls working together and [having] fluidity…it shows me my team is as in touch with one another as I am with them. The fluidity this year has been really good, and you can tell which games we had that in.”
One thing can definitely be said about this team is that their team work and “fluidity” has been evident during games and practices. It’s been noted that the Lady Beavers’ atmosphere is “electric” before games, with all of the girls zoned-in about the competition but all understanding the importance of having fun both before and after the games.
The girls’ coaches, Brendan Boucher and Kaylyn Whiteley-Nichols, mentioned how well the Lady Beavers have been doing recently. Boucher noted how, “If we win [September 23] we will match the wins from last year. We have drastically improved and the team always gets along. Really, the girls could be undefeated.”
As mentioned before, spectators and fans alike have taken a notice to the hard work, efforts, and motivation of this group of athletes. So the question of how the coaches helped motivate this group of girls had to be asked.
Boucher said, “…everyone has the same goal in mind. I think knowing soccer doesn’t have individual records helps.”
With the coaches repeatedly referring to this shared goal, and continuously encouraging the girls, they have become goal-oriented and highly motivated. Both coaches mentioned how much of a “team-first” atmosphere this group of girls really is. If there’s one thing about being a part of a team, it’s how important putting the team first is, and these girls understand that completely.
A few things coach Boucher and Whiteley-Nichols repeatedly do to get the girls going in both games and practices is constantly encourage them, reiterate how great of a potential they have as a team, remind them of how much they believe in the girls and they are always honest with them. Because of these particular values these coaches have adopted, they set the foundation for a strong, trusting group of amazing athletes.
One question they always ask the girls is, “Who wants it more?” This simple question holds great complexity, but these girls take this question and use it as a form of motivation to beat opponents and as dedication to themselves and the coaches.
The Lady Beavers soccer team, and coaches, have built a strong basis of trust, dedication, talent and motivation that has carried them through so many wins. Most importantly though, they believe in themselves and have coaches who wholeheartedly believe in them and their potential as well.
