The Falcon   |   Volume 83, Issue 52

Published 5/22/13   |   Log In

Women’s soccer driven by balance of leadership

Published: October 3, 2012

Since 2008, the Seattle Pacific women’s soccer team has had at least two more freshmen than seniors on the team at a time. The 2012 season marks the starkest ratio yet, with only three seniors to eight freshmen. The last time SPU saw this many new team members was back in 2008, when the Falcons took the NCAA title.

Midfielders Kendall Thoreson and Brittany Langdon and forward Megan Lindsey make up this year’s senior tripod. Although their guidance is important to the team, leadership is not expected to solely come from the seniors.

“[Leadership] doesn’t only come from seniors,” head coach Chuck Sekyra said. “We’re looking for leadership from everybody.”

Sekyra acknowledges that there is a learning divide between freshmen and seniors. The job of the coaching staff and upperclassmen when taking on so many freshmen requires them to be a lot more patient.

By the looks of Saturday night’s game, their patience has paid off. The Falcons (6-2-2, 3-1-2 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference), forced the Saint Martin’s Saints into double overtime, with the score tied 1-1.

The first goal was an unassisted score by sophomore forward Ali Martin with 17 minutes in the first half. This goal was followed by a counter attack from SMU with ten minutes remaining in the first half.

With ten seconds left in the second and final overtime, Lindsay took the corner kick. Freshman defender Shayla Page headed the ball into the goal, making the final score 2-1.

“I try to lead by example,” Page said. “I try to work as hard as I can.”

Page also looks up to seniors such as Langdon, in addition to sophomores, like goalkeeper Alexa Hughes, who have helped her adjust to her first season at the college level.

“We have to do a lot of problem solving, but we do it together,” Page said.

The rest of the team is mirroring Page’s example, which will be crucial as more GNAC games are to come. The Falcon’s next match will be held at Central Washington in Ellensburg, Wash on October 4 at 4:00 p.m.

By MALIEA LUQUIN

staff reporter

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