Charger Sports

Black and white ball attacked by horde of girls ... again

Wes Garner, Charger Staff

Back by popular demand of the girls soccer team, I present to you the brand new and improved “GIRLS SOCCER TEAM ARTICLE.” Bum bum bum bum buuuuummm! Besides the intro, the team has been experiencing a fairly dramatic year. According to both teammates and coaches, the team is very good. In fact, the team is the best that has been around in years.

It all started when the new assistant coach, Neal Ellis, arrived on the scene. According to the players, he is a formidable addition to the team. “Coach Neal,” as referred to by the girls, is very focused on individual form and carries a vast knowledge of the sport. Unlike most coaches, though, he doesn’t smother his players with endless criticism alone.

Direction follows closely behind as he instructs the girls. “This is how it should feel...” and “I want to see this...” is the center of his constructive criticism so that his criticism actually constructs a better individual.

Coach Ellis has an impressive past, also. He moved from Guatemala (if that isn’t impressive enough, considering it is part of the soccer continent) and went to Milligan College in East Tennessee, where he played four years on the soccer team.

He finally moved to Cookeville in order to attend TTU and has been directing Cookeville United (youth 17 girls and 15 boys) for a year and a half.

The head coach for the team this year and for the past year is Lauren Neal (two Neals, how about that). Lauren was an all-star in high school and is still one to the players. Coach Lauren’s tactics are a tasteful opposite to Coach Neal’s (Neal as in the male coach). Coach Lauren has grown up with the seniors this year and almost passes as one of the players. That shows just how close she is to the team.

She is looked at by the girls as not only a coach, but a friend. She has been working with high school soccer since 1997 and specifically at this school for four years.

Being so close to the team shows why her curriculum focuses on the team and their togetherness.

She believes that “...we have a lot of potential” and it definitely shows.

The team’s highlight has been beating Oakland for the very first time. Even though the rest of their season hasn’t exactly been “the stuff” recently, their skill is very easily seen, even to the untrained eye. A big challenge for the girls has been the competition they face despite their talent. Coach Lauren Neal says they have “...not only better players, but better opponents.” Not only are there challenges from without, but also from within. Their starting forward, Courtney Bressler, tore her MCL and ACL on her left knee, which has caused them to try to fit in around the loss.

Despite these trials, the team is showing potential despite their youth. Having ten sophomores and nine freshmen presents the problem of working together, but they have definitely shown a beautiful bondage with each other.

The seniors have made the effort to be more on the level with the younger players, unlike in the past. The team also has a better appreciation for the game and a desire to be improve. They have also gone on a team camping trip together.

The seniors this year have been a very integral part of the lineup. They have realized how important every game really is. Also, every game is a part of something that will soon be left behind. They have also found how important of a role they play with the other girls.

After becoming so used to looking to upper classmen, it has come as a kind of shock to them. That shock has boosted them into being better all-around players with not only their skills, but their attitude towards the game and the players.

The girls really have earned a lot of praise. Expect a great year this year and many more in the future. Keep it up girls, you have our support and our admiration for the hard work you do!

Article prepared for web by Joy Wheeler