Occidental College’s women’s soccer team emerged victorious in a match against Chapman University, winning 3-0. Forward Maile Fukushima (first year) earned SCIAC Athlete of the Week honors for her performance, scoring two goals and assisting on the third.
Maile Fukushima said her performance resulted from the excitement of the whole team working as a unit in the game against Chapman.
“Our ability to connect [while] moving up the field resulted in goals in the run of play and it was really exciting to be a part of that,” Fukushima said.
Leading up to the contest against Chapman, center forward Mia Steadman (first year) said Maile Fukushima was eager to make a significant contribution to the team. During the early stages of the game, Steadman said that Maile Fukushima was substituted for her sister, midfielder Anna Fukushima (senior), and made an immediate impact, with an assist and a goal of her own within the span of 15 minutes. According to the Oxy Athletics website, Maile Fukushima went on to score her second goal of the game with assists from Steadman and Gigi Yamamoto (junior).
Steadman said Maile Fukushima was assisted by forward Lauren Cassel (first year) and chipped the ball over the Chapman goalie from about 30 yards out.
“It was beautiful. Her mom was there, her friend from home was there — it was the perfect time to score,” Steadman said. “It was so much fun.”
According to defender and team captain Clare Madden (senior), Maile Fukushima’s first goal came at a pivotal moment in the match.
“[The team] did not have the momentum when [Maile Fukushima] came into the game. She scored and gave us the lead when [Chapman was] pushing the game in their favor,” Madden said.
Steadman said Maile Fukushima went on to play the ball back into the box after it was bounced out as an assist to Steadman to score the second goal of the game. Steadman said that later in the game, she passed the ball to Maile Fukushima who outmaneuvered the Chapman goalkeeper and secured her second goal.
“I just touched it in. It was all her,” Steadman said.
However, Maile Fukushima emphasized that her performance was the result of collective work, attributing her successes to her teammates.
“[Mia Steadman and I] work off of each other [on the field] and I think that is something that really [contributed] to my success in the Chapman game. I don’t think I could’ve [won SCIAC Athlete of the Week] without the team and Mia, especially,” Fukushima said.
Anna Fukushima said after Maile Fukushima scored her first goal, she was jumping and cheering but her coach reminded her that the game was not over yet; after her second goal, he gave her permission to celebrate. According to Steadman, Maile Fukushima’s enthusiasm in practices and games creates an atmosphere of contagious determination and camaraderie throughout the team.
“Whenever [Maile Fukushima] is in, whenever she’s tracking back to defend or when the ball is at her feet, her energy brings everybody else up and it makes you want to play with as much fire and energy she has. The whole team [wants] to work just as hard as she is,” Steadman said. “That’s something that is really hard to find in a player and she does it so well.”
Occidental’s victory over Chapman propelled the team closer to securing a spot in the SCIAC playoffs.
“We’re doing a lot of work to get to SCIAC playoffs, and I see the drive in all of the girls. Everyone wants to get there,” Maile Fukushima said. “Pushing and working as hard as we are, I think we can get there.”
Contact Trisha Bhima at bhima@oxy.edu
