Girls kick up losing record: early success sets up disappointment

May 22, 2009 • written by Nick Nelson, Staff Writer  
Filed under Sports

        The perfect season, flawless record and winning it all at state would be the West Fargo girls soccer team’s ultimate goal. The team started the season with a flawless record and were on the track for a perfect season. More specifically the team began the first three games without a loss, 2-0-1.

        Junior midfielder Mara Johnson was pleased about the early season success.

        “Everyone was pumped and ready to play,” Johnson said. “We were happy when we won and got excited to play the next game.”

        However, perfection is only sweet for so long and the girls lost 3-1 to Fargo North. Since the team started the first three games without a loss on their record, the team has lost four games and won only two.

        “The loss shocked us,” Johnson said. “The team thought we would do well, since the loss things have been going downhill.”

        Junior midfielder Kayla Miller agrees the team hasn’t been as successful as before their first loss.

        “I don’t know what changed,” Miller said. “We’re just having a couple of off games.”

        These “off” games have been blamed on multiple things, including lack of leadership along with less and less team unity. This year there are only two seniors on the team, so the team captains are juniors.

        “We have leaders, but with such few seniors it’s hard to have experienced leaders,” Miller said.

        Before games the girls pump each other up by listening to a boom box in attempts to unite the team.

        “We have team unity, but it could be stronger,” Johnson said

        Junior forward Tia Lopez agrees the team isn’t perfect and could use some improvements.

        “We need more communication on the field,” Lopez said. “However, we shouldn’t get mad; we should just play as a team.”

        Even with the losses and the need for improvements, Lopez still has high hopes for state.

        “We’re a good group of girls, even with the losses,” Lopez said. “Plus, we’re still one of the better teams.”

        The team may be in a rut as of late, but they know where they want to get, know what it feels like to have the success and will continue to work until success is achieved.

        “Our goal is state, and the team will do anything to get there,” Miller said. “We know we can. We believe.”