Unity is not something that a team automatically has just because it wears the same jersey. Nor can it be turned on and off, like some proverbial light switch. It’s the product of long hours on the practice field, and it’s built when you’re forced to rely on your team for help and not just a Gatorade.
The women’s soccer team (5-7-1, 0-1-0) has hit a rough spot the past few weeks. After starting the season 4-0 and being nationally ranked, the team has gone 1-7-1 since. Head coach Rich Manning said he knows the team has been putting in the work to improve its games, but that hasn’t shown up in the win-loss column.
“I am so proud of the team and the heart that we’ve shown through extremely tough matches,” Manning said. “We are so young and the team is getting so much better, but we just need to get a win to get us back on track and out of this tailspin.”
Led by seniors Kelly Isleib, Jen Christoffers and Emalee Rogers, the Utes have been focusing on the little things that make a team.
“We had the idea because we wanted to show more team togetherness,” Isleib said. “We’ve had a few tough losses in a row and it’s hurt our confidence a bit. We need to remember that we are still a team, and we are here for each other. We are such a good team, and we just need to remember that.”
For starters, the seniors had the idea for all the team members to write the same message on their hands. Nothing large or disrespectful, but a simple reminder that the team needs to act like a unit.
“When we play well, it’s because we are very close-knit,” said freshman forward Hanna Terry. “Having pride or unity written on my hand all week really helps me to stay focused and remember the team goals. Winning is all about heart and doing little things like this show that we care and that we have heart.”
In addition to the handwritten reminders, the team has found another way to act like a team. They unveiled a new celebration dance that was performed at center field after Isleib scored a goal in the loss to BYU.
“It’s called the jerk dance, and we all know it,” Isleib said. “Sometimes the game gets so intense and serious, so this is just a way for us to stay loose and have fun out there.”
Utah is still looking to turn its luck around after yet another tough loss last week in its conference opener. The team opened conference play at BYU and fell 2-1 in overtime.
The game was a physical one in which 37 fouls were called. Through the rough and tumble action, the Utes did incur one serious injury. Sophomore defender Lauren Porter suffered a concussion when she collided with a BYU player and was hit in the jaw. Porter lay on the field for several minutes before walking off by her own power. Porter is listed as day-to-day but will travel with the team on its two-game road trip this weekend.
The Utes will travel to Las Vegas to face UNLV (4-4-4, 0-1-0) Thursday at 7 p.m. PT. They will then head to San Diego for a Saturday contest against SDSU (7-3-3, 0-0-0) at noon PT.
Tyler CobbThe Utah soccer team celebrates a goal from early in the year. Now when the team scores a goal the team will do the jerk dance in an effort to stay loose and have fun during the game.