The 2019 collegiate soccer season is well underway now, and our Lady Saints are here to play. Bolstering a new, freshly designed jersey, the lady saints have made a meaningful start to the 2019 campaign. With intentions to claim the Liberty League title and secure a lucrative appearance at the NCAA tournament, the women’s soccer team has been hard at work since their first game back on August 30th. The Lady Saints have played in six matches this season, emerging victorious in five of them. With a current record of 5-1, the team has outscored their opponents 15-6, and looks to continue their great form as the season progresses. The team looks relatively unchanged from the team fielded last year, with a few freshman filling up the space left from graduated seniors.
The current roster of thirty-three women is comprised of eight first years, eight sophomores, ten juniors, and seven seniors. This sixteen to seventeen split between upperclassmen and lowerclassmen has no effect on the team chemistry or locker room atmosphere. Although some injuries have plagued the team so far, other girls have been ready to step up and help when called upon.
Speaking with senior center-midfielder, Kira Murphy, we discussed all the awesome things that revolve around the ladies on the team, on and off the pitch. One thing she had to say was, “Since the start of the season, and I guess our time here in general, the other seniors and I have strived to be more than just student-athletes. The SLU community is such a special and beautiful place that it has inspired us to go out and be more and to embrace our experience. We want our new girls to see that our lives are more than just about on the field. We want our players to have the mentality that we can grow athletically, but also importantly to grow academically, grow as a person in our community, and grow personally, as individuals.” Each and every one of the girls has different interests and hobbies, but one thing they all have in common is their love for the game and for each other. They are a tightly knit group who truly embody the ideals of teamwork and hard work. Pride exuberates from their pores, and they always have each other’s back.
While the ladies work hard on the pitch, they also enjoy the opportunities that St. Lawrence has to offer off the pitch. Several players are members of Greek Life, Theme Housing, or other groups and clubs. Their faces are familiar across campus and almost always accompanied with a wide smile and cheerful hello. The inclusive and caring culture the girls have cultivated over their time here can be seen in their genuinity. Feel free to say hello when you see them around, odds are you will get a nice hello in return.
Looking to the future, the girls get back to work this Saturday, September 21st, against Union College. The remainder of this season’s games will be played against opponents in the Liberty League conference. Aside from our rivalry game against Clarkson on October 29th, one particular matchup that you should mark your calendars for is November 2nd. The Lady Saints will be hosting William and Smith on Sandy MacAllaster field for their senior day. This is always a highly anticipated fixture, and I can assure you this year will be the same.