By Halle Nottage
It is often said that true athletic transformation is created by working hard when nobody is watching. This statement holds true for the Peninsula Women’s Soccer Team, which has finally entered into its off season after capturing not only the North Division, but also the coveted 2018 NWAC title. However, what exactly is it that these champions do during the off season?
“The goal of the offseason is to make each individual better, whereas the Fall is about team development. It’s a little more personalized, a little more self guided, a little more freedom, and a little more self-accountability, whereas we don’t have room for people to make mistakes during the Fall as we have games,” said Head Coach Kanyon Anderson. “There is the saying that a fence is only as strong as its weakest link, so this is really about player development.”
The team will be divvying up their time amongst the field, the weight room and individual trainings. Due to conflicts between classes and the team’s schedule, it is up to the girls to hold themselves accountable to making up missed lifting sessions, and even hitting the field on their free time in order to keep their skills sharp and fitness up.
Goal setting and achieving is one of the biggest themes during the offseason, and is encouraged in every aspect: physically, mentally and emotionally. On goal setting, freshman Breanne Kuni, Kayla Alcott and Sydney Zeitler all have their’s in mind, “no days off,” Alcott said, who scored the game winner in the semifinal against Highline, “everyday is a chance to improve, whether its hitting the weight room, or the field,”.
Zietler teased, “or the books,” a small smirk on her face. “However, in all realness I want to improve my left foot as I play on the left side of the field and becoming more solid with both of my feet could help serve me and my team a lot better.” When it comes to Kuni, she keeps it simple, “work rate.” All in all, these three freshman are looking to win a championship next year, which they know won’t come easy with having a target on their back.
For those not returning, the task at hand is quite different: get recruited. Sophomores looking to continue their soccer journey will be looking to transfer in the fall to a four-year university.
They will be going on visits, contacting coaches, and finalizing other details in order to do so and carry with them all they learned at Peninsula College.