By: Kelly Kultys
This past fall was a season of success for the young program women’s soccer program. The team made it to the national competition for the first time ever and even succeeded in fundraising over $13,000 to fund their trip.
However, as they return to the practice field for the first time since that journey, there are a few more questions on their mind. For starters, Jackie Gawne, FCRH’15, Maggie Abella, FCRH’15, and Erica DePalma, FCRH’15, the team’s three senior captains will all be graduating in less than a month. The three girls have been instrumental in moving this team forward.
(courtesy of Women’s Club Soccer)
“[Deciding to go to Nationals] was mainly because of Jackie’s passion for it because a lot of us were hesitant, but she was like, ‘No we’re doing this’,” DePalma said, after the team got back from the competition. “We have the ability to do this.”
Their impact has been felt by the younger soccer players as well.
“[Joining club soccer] was honestly the best decision I made all year,” Maeve McGowan, FCRH’18, said. “I’m so thankful, because I’ve never met a better group of girls. I get along with completely everyone.”
She believes this has something to do with the culture created by her captains. Gawne, DePalma, and Abella said that they emphasized the fact that this group wasn’t just about competing and winning, but also about making friends and bonding away from the sport.
“This is our version of a sorority,” Gawne said. “This is our club, this is our social group.”
“We’re here,” Gawne said. “I just want everyone to be comfortable coming to us telling us, ‘oh my god I have homework due,’ or ‘oh my god my boyfriend is driving me nuts.’ You know, just being able to talk to us and being able to know that you have a family away from your family.”
(Courtesy of Women’s Club Soccer)
Now, however, those three are forced to leave the family atmosphere they created and entrust it to some of the younger girls, like incoming captain Jessica Robertson, FCRH’17, and Lauren Regan, FCRH’18.
“It’s gonna be tough without [them],” Regan said. “But I hope that we just learn from what you did.”
For Gawne, DePalma, and Abella, the next phase of their lives takes place away from the game, but they hope the younger girls can follow their path to success on and off the field.
“I don’t care whether they’re good or not,” Gawne said. She laughed and pointed at Regan and said, “I hope that you would be good and you win. I know that you like winning.” She continued, “But I really hope that no matter what it’s the club of girls that come together every week to share their stories and share their lives together.”
After she said this, Gawne put her hands over her eyes to imitate a crying gesture, as she said, “it’s so sad.”
Gawne and her co-captains, leave behind a lasting legacy of leadership, one that the team lacked the prior year. The team struggled and the three realized the problem came from the top.
(Courtesy of Women’s Club Soccer)
“Our junior year it was just bad. We didn’t make it to regionals. We didn’t win that many games,” Gawne said.
“The leadership just kind of fell apart,” DePalma added.
They wanted to change the direction of women’s club soccer and make it legitimate organization in the eyes of the school. They were able to do that, as when Regan was asked what her goals on the field were for next season replied quickly, “Nationals. Well, definitely regionals, but nationals as well.”
And it seems like she has the proper example to follow to get there.
Practice footage:
Kelly Kultys 