Shakopee Soccer Association

It was almost 11 players. But thanks to Nikki Thompson’s parents, she was able to get from the track meet to the game –running up to the sidelines as the refs were tossing the coin during the captains meeting. Not content to run in the track meet, Nikki ran throughout the game. She has emerged as one of the leaders on the team in her consistent effort throughout each and every game.

Another one leading by her actions is Maddie Baden. Maddie gives 100% for the full 60 minutes, and has played defense and mid with heart and determination in every game. She will not give up on the ball, and regularly demonstrates the mindset to “own the ball.” 

Sami Knox also knows how to “own the ball” and she is also the ultimate cross-trainer, in that she has translated her basketball skills to soccer – court presence is now field presence, between the player and the basket is now between the player and the goal. And she has even figured out how to box out on the soccer field a few times.

Sami has probably learned a thing or two on boxing out or “nudging with purpose” from Amy Sawyer. In addition to being excellent at establishing position on the ball, Amy has played a critical role at sweeper, and as our team learns defensive positioning, she has often been the last and only line of defense for our goalies. 

Amy and Daisy Sanchez have a stealth speed gaining on faster players by cutting off the line to shorten the distance to the opposition. More than once Daisy has crossed the field from behind to stop the opposing team’s breakaway. Like Sami, Daisy is developing a field presence and is reading the opposing team to make sure she fills the space to stop the advance.

Filling space is something Emily Ryan seems to do naturally. Playing a team sport at the travel level for the first time isn’t easy, but Emily seems to learn every game, and is picking up the play. Her gymnastic athleticism is helping out too as her endurance seems endless at times. She is always in the mix to stop the attack and move the ball forward.

Taylor Grindland is also in the mix quite a bit, disrupting the opposing team attack. She will surprise us on occasion, as she plows through the opposition to move the ball forward.

Another one who plows through is Brittany Demers. Where many would accept a block and trap, and transition back to defend, Brittany continues through and keeps going toward the goal. She is relentless.

Like Brittany, Katie Roches can be relentless. In our toughest game of the week against Rochester, Katie showed that she owns the goalie box. She was constantly diving and falling on the ball, giving Rochester no second chances.

Casey Meyer showed that not only newer players are learning. In our last game of the tournament, after a discussion with coaches, Casey took pressure to a whole new level as she came out from the inner goalie box and not only challenged the opposition in the larger box, but also stopped their advance out beyond the box. Casey and Katie also helped each other as sweeper in the games.

Like Emily, Ali is new to the sport. She has become our bounce back player literally and figuratively. Whether taking kicked balls to her leg, side, back or nose, she always seems to bounce back and come back stronger. As she is learning this sport she is having fun the entire time. Adversity to Ali is like the water off a duck’s back. She is unfazed by it.

Our forwards have had a tough time getting to the ball – as many times the game has been played on the defensive side of the field. But when they did get to the ball, they took advantage. Megan Stavros had a few breakaways and quite a few shots on goal, and Anna had several shots on goal during our first tournament game. Dani had a few shots on goal and set up a few shots as well.

The team has faced rebuilding years before. It’s tough to do. Returning players who relied on trusted teammates before, now have to carry the load. It’s a tough change to make. Newer players are learning new concepts, jargon, and can see what’s happening when they aren’t near the ball, but need to learn how to see the field when the ball is near. There are adjustments all over.

This week has been tough, but where in previous weeks, coaches saw individual accomplishments, this week they saw groups of players putting together those accomplishments. Many times there were excellent passing to move the ball from defense to mids. Other times there were amazing coverages between forwards and mids. Then there were times where the left or the right side of the field moved together in concert together.