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By Mackala Krichbaum, KrichbaumM@Findlay.edu
DeHaven is heating up for the Women’s Soccer team this season as they are off to a 3-4-2 start.
Academically and athletically the Women’s Soccer team has been hard at work both on and off the field. Head coach Sierra Tom gives an inside look into how the season is progressing.
“Super important to us we try to keep above a 3.65 GPA,” Tom said. “In the past, we’ve had semesters where we have a 3.7 GPA.”
Transitioning from last season to this season, the biggest task for the women’s soccer team is to get the freshman acclimated.
“Super excited about our freshman class that came in this year,” Tom said. “Lots of kids that can contribute significantly.”
The women’s soccer team utilized the summer months to establish their leadership. They also utilized the summer month with the strength coach.
“They all have fun with it — they all bring out the best,” Tom said. “So, I think that’s huge.”
The team is motivated to earn the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Title and then a spot in the National tournament. Working as a team allows them to reach this goal.
“It stems from all of them really wanting that competitive drive, wanting to get better every single day,” Tom said. “So, they bring that to practice and then off the field like they’re all friends.”
At practice, the women’s soccer team varies in levels of intensity. The team is working on shooting currently.
Preparing for matchups against opponents, the soccer team utilizes a scouting report for the other team to look at their strengths and weaknesses.
While success is seen as wins and losses, Tom does not define her team by these statistics.
“If everyone is playing for the seniors and for each other, that’s a success,” Tom said. “It is the seniors’ last year, along with a couple of fifth years, so I think that if everyone can come together and think about them every single day to make the experience the best thing possible for them. That’ll pay off because when the freshman are seniors, they are going to have the same thing happen to them.”
Head Coach Tom is the proudest of the experiences they are building outside of athletics working towards their future careers.
“Seeing them go into the real world or even getting into big internships makes me proud,” Tom said. “It’s huge because that’s going to affect their future the most. I’m trying to teach them as much as I possibly can, but seeing them in the real world, getting jobs is huge and I love it.”
The women’s soccer team has their next game Oct. 12 at 1 p.m. against Ursuline at DeHaven.
