Author: Claire Diggins
Undefeated in conference play with a 5-1-1 record overall, the women’s soccer team is on a roll this season. With Season Falker-Rodriguez (senior), Bree Geary (junior) and Madeline Rasch (junior) serving as captains for the 2010 season, the team has been difficult to defeat because of its focus on possession-style soccer, a method of play in which possessing the ball is paramount. The team’s chemistry has also made it challenging for opponents to secure a victory. Despite the presence of many first-years, the team has managed to come together both on and off the field. “One of the things we had to deal with at the beginning of the season was adding a lot of freshmen to the roster and incorporating them into the team,” Geary said. “The returners have really put in the effort to make sure they are comfortable and having a great time in order to create a good team dynamic.”
Although team chemistry is vital, it’s not enough to win a championship. The Tigers train intensely four days a week, often doing more than is required of them in order to stay on top of their game. “The girls have been coming early on certain days,” Head Coach Colm McFeely said. “It’s a pleasure to see the number of players that are present.”
The team’s rigorous practice schedule is paying off. Goalkeeper Robin Feldman (junior) is one of the players making impressive strides on the field this season. She has been outstanding in goal-keeping, displaying both force and agility in her saves.
The rest of the team has been performing just as strongly. In front of Feldman, the defense for Oxy has been solid, rarely allowing a goal during a game. With Geary and Falker-Rodriguez on the back line, the defense has also been well-organized, especially in keeping possession of the ball and marking up opponents. The midfield players, including Rasch, have been reliable in the defensive zone and countering on the attack. From making tackles to threading the ball beautifully, the midfield has been able to find their forwards up top.
Though the team as a whole has played well this season, individual players have also been noteworthy. Leading goal scorer Alex Nicholson (sophomore) (four goals) and Elissa Minamishin (first-year) (three goals) have been in solid tandem, finishing goal opportunities while also providing assists. Their chemistry has been spot-on as they do a great job of finding each other. “When we’re on the field, we just try to work it out finding other people’s strengths and knowing what they’re good at. It just works like that and it’s been easy because everyone’s really good,” Minamishin said.
Although they’ve had many successful games, the team especially enjoyed defeating Claremont Mudd Scripps (CMS) and Pomona-Pitzer due to the fierce rivalry that has accumulated throughout the years. “The win against CMS and the win against Pomona-Pitzer under the lights last weekend were definitely highlights thus far,” Geary said. “In past years we have had some trouble scoring and to put two goals in against both those teams was so exciting for us.” The wins were hard-fought, however.
Still, the Tigers see those games as a test of the team’s performance capability when the stakes are high. They also see their victories as a good sign of things to come. “That win was very exciting because CMS has always been one of our biggest rivals,” Geary said. “To come back this year and beat them at home really proved that this is going to be a great season.”
While the season has been going well for the women’s soccer team, there is still work to be done. One of their weaknesses has been coping with injuries. Because there are a limited number of defenders on the team, if any become injured the Tigers’ winning record could be compromised. To ensure that injuries don’t interfere with the SCIAC championship games, the players are trying not to overwork themselves. As Coach McFeely said, it’s a matter of staying healthy and knowing what players are available.
Despite the hurdles they’ve faced, the Tigers remain goal-oriented. Their main goal is to reach the post-season tournament. At this pace, they should be able to qualify for the NCAA tournament. As Elissa Minamishin said earlier, “Soccer’s so crazy, you never know how it happens on any given day.”
This article has been archived, for more requests please contact us via the support system.
