OCR Text |
Show A THLETICS 10 The womens soccer team has a special ritual before every home game to get them fired up. Assistant Coach Nic Duncan leads them in a chant, taken from the movie 300, which makes the players think as themselves as gladiators and this game is war, said Megan Molumby, a defensive player on the team. Griffins or Spartans? A look into Westminster women's soccer Molly Arnold Staff Reporter Westminsters womens soccer team begin their warmup in the locker room with a dance party, followed by the song We Ready and chant, We must protect this bous house. After, they become serious, walk onto the field and begin the game. ' Who are we? Nic Duncan, assistant coach, asks. GRIFFINS, the girls yell back, a cheer they took from the movie 300. We like to think of ourselves as gladiators, and this game is war, said Megan Molumby, senior elementary education major and member of the soccer team. This year is the first time Westminster has competed against DII NCAA teams. With a standing of three wins and four losses in the RMAC and a close game against Colorado School of Mines (the top team in the conference), the women are happy with the season so far. We were predicted to get last in the whole conference, said Maddie Lewis, junior neuroscience major and member of the team. So, it was pretty cool that . the game against Mines was so close. Their head coach, Tony LeBlanc, agrees and said he expects that the team will continue to compete well with all the other teams in the conference. We barely lost and shouldnt have lost to the top team in the conference, LeBlanc said. It was a great game and it showed us where we were in this new transition. The game against Mines ended with Griffins 0 and Mines l.Team members agreed that it was a good game but know that there is a tough road ahead. We will probably finish toward the middle of the conference, said Abi Yanke, senior accounting major and goalie for the soccer team. We are new and dont have much experience with these bigger teams. Although the girls are doing well, they have to abide by NCAA rules, which means they cannot compete for a national title for another two seasons. This rule makes it hard for the team to find motivation, however, they get it through the closeness of the team and encouraging each other. Its been of getting together and motivating ourselves, Molumby said. We cant have that actual trophy to show our win. a season Coach LeBlanc and the women on the team agree that they are closer than ever this year. Our team is literally just a party, Molumby said. We are all truly friends. If you put us in a room, itll be a party. You dont even have to play music we will make our own. Many members said they view the team as a family. I think our closeness will help when the tough games come, because we are like a family and it feels like we have each others backs, LeBlanc said. The team has two more games at home on Friday, Oct. 23 and Sunday, Oct. 25, and said they would love the support of fellow classmates. We feed off peoples energies, Molumby said. So, whether you show up with your face painted or just screaming... its going to be a better game when youre hyped. |