Rebuilding Team Chemistry: Muskie Girls Varsity Soccer

Leaving the soccer team in summer of ‘22 were 12 seniors, as the team consists of 11 players on the field at a time. With 12 players leaving the team that leaves a lot of opportunity for new players to step up and get their name on the varsity roster, but it also leaves a big hole in the team. The graduated players had been playing with each other for a long time and had built their chemistry throughout the years. Leaving the team, and their other teammates behind has left the girls soccer team with a big task. Rebuilding the team chemistry.

Junior, Anna Bode said, “One thing that makes our  chemistry better on the field is what we do off the field, like if we get ice cream after practice.”

The team has developed a welcome and organic system to always coordinate team dinners on Wednesdays where everyone happily contributes and attends.

“I think that our team dinners are very team lead, like at the beginning of the season we were like ok we are going to do this,” Senior, Lanie Weikert said.

Without chemistry off the field then they have no form of connection on the field. Knowing how each person plays on the field is a key aspect to making good plays.

“Having good team chemistry makes us play better, without it we wouldn’t have good plays on the field,” Sophomore Leah Othmer said.

This soccer season has a lot of new faces, compared to prior seasons. Even though there were many changes to the team, they still found ways to connect with each other, making their chemistry more effective on the field.

“I think it’s really good for the little amount of time that we’ve played together. It’s a young team and we all haven’t  played with each other for a long time so it is pretty good for it being our first season all together, and it improves with every game we play,” said Anna.

Though, keeping good team chemistry does not stop there. Other factors such as encouragement play a great role.

“Keeping positive comments off the field is also a main factor to our team because on the field comments can be taken negatively even though it is constructive criticism,” Anna said.

With constructive criticism comes a form of help. For newer players such as Suhailey being able to know where you are wanted is good.

“Being transparent with everyone helps a lot because you will never know what you are doing wrong and right if someone doesn’t tell you,” said Suhailey. “For me coming onto varsity wasn’t a hard transition. I know most of the girls and they are all super friendly and welcoming.”

Mallory Bruhn, freshmen, offers a perspective as one of the youngest members. She too values the communication aspect of a team, but finding your voice can be intimidating.

“For me it has been a little hard and definitely more than being one of the youngest. With a role that I have to communicate a lot on the field especially to the defense. I haven’t played with these girls a lot,” Mallory said.

Mallory’s sentiment is heard and understood by the upperclassmen which is why with so many people on the team, team chemistry has been prioritized this year.