Welcome to our blog, where we share the incredible story of the St. Thomas Women’s Soccer team! Over the years, our team has been a force to be reckoned with, consistently achieving success both on and off the field. Today, we want to take you on a journey through our team’s history and introduce you to some of our star players. We’ll give you a behind-the-scenes look at our training and preparation, and share how soccer has helped us build character and lessons we can apply to life both on and off the field. So let’s dive in!
St. Thomas Women’s Soccer: A Legacy of Success
St. Thomas Women’s Soccer is a name synonymous with success. The team has been dominating the field for years, leaving a lasting legacy behind. The program is known for producing elite players who go on to play at the college level. The success of St. Thomas Women’s Soccer can be attributed to a number of factors.
First and foremost, the coaching staff plays a significant role in the team’s success. Head coach Cindy Dabb has been with the program for over two decades and has led the team to numerous victories. Her leadership and guidance have helped shape the program into what it is today. Additionally, the assistant coaches and support staff provide valuable assistance to the players, ensuring that they have what they need to succeed both on and off the field.
| Year | Record | Conference Record | Post-Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 19-3-1 | 11-1-1 | NCAA National Runner-Up |
| 2015 | 21-1-1 | 13-0-0 | MIAC Champions, NCAA Third Round |
| 2016 | 22-1-0 | 14-0-0 | MIAC Champions, NCAA Semifinals |
Another factor that contributes to the success of St. Thomas Women’s Soccer is recruiting. The coaching staff puts a great deal of effort into scouting and recruiting talented players who will be a good fit for the team. The players are not only talented on the field, but they also possess leadership qualities and a strong work ethic. This ensures that the team is not only successful on the field, but also a close-knit group off the field.
Lastly, the players themselves deserve credit for the program’s success. They put in the hard work and dedication required to be successful, both in their individual development and in their teamwork on the field. The players hold themselves to a high standard, setting and achieving lofty goals year after year. It is this commitment to excellence that has made St. Thomas Women’s Soccer a legacy of success.
The Road to Dominance: A Brief History
For any successful team, it’s important to understand and appreciate the road they took to achieve their accomplishments. In the case of St. Thomas Women’s Soccer, their journey to dominance has been a long and impressive one.
It all began in 1991 when the team was first formed. Although they didn’t achieve much success in their early years, the program steadily improved under the guidance of head coach Sheila McGill and assistant coach Wendy Davis. In fact, in just their fourth year of existence, the team won the MIAC Championship and advanced to the NCAA tournament.
The early 2000s brought even more success. From 2000 to 2005, the team won five consecutive conference championships and advanced to the NCAA tournament each year. During this time period, they also made three appearances in the NCAA Final Four and won the National Championship in 2005. This was a remarkable achievement for the program, and it solidified their place among the elite teams in Division III women’s soccer.
| Year | Record | Postseason Result |
| 1995 | 12-6-1 | NCAA 1st Round |
| 1998 | 13-5-2 | NCAA 2nd Round |
| 2005 | 23-0-1 | NCAA Champions |
Since that memorable 2005 season, the program has continued to build upon its success. They’ve won eight more conference championships and have advanced to the NCAA tournament on numerous occasions. In 2012, they made their second appearance in the NCAA Final Four, proving that St. Thomas Women’s Soccer is still one of the top programs in the nation.
What’s perhaps most impressive about their journey to dominance is the sustained success they’ve had over such a long period of time. It’s one thing to have a few successful seasons, but to consistently be a top contender year in and year out is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in the program.
Overall, the road to dominance for St. Thomas Women’s Soccer has been a long and impressive one. With a rich history of success and a tradition of excellence, the program will undoubtedly continue to achieve great things in the years to come.
The Key Players: Meet the Stars of the Team
St. Thomas Women’s Soccer is one of the most successful programs in collegiate sports of all time, with a legacy that spans over three decades. At the heart of every great team are its players, and the Tommies have had their fair share of standout athletes over the years. These are the key players who have helped lead the team to its many victories and championships.
First on the list is Kendra Naatjes, a former forward who holds the record for most career goals in St. Thomas Women’s Soccer history. Naatjes was a two-time All-American and the MIAC Player of the Year in both 2012 and 2013. She was instrumental in leading the Tommies to four consecutive MIAC titles and three NCAA appearances while playing for the team from 2010-2013.
Next up is Kristi Larson, a three-time All-American midfielder who also played for the Tommies from 2010-2013. Larson was the MIAC Player of the Year in 2011 and led the conference in assists that same season. She was a key contributor on two MIAC championship teams and helped the Tommies make two NCAA tournament appearances.
| Player Name | Position | Years Played |
|---|---|---|
| Kendra Naatjes | Forward | 2010-2013 |
| Kristi Larson | Midfielder | 2010-2013 |
| Emily Gregory | Defender | 2014-2017 |
Emily Gregory was a defensive standout during her time with the Tommies from 2014-2017. She was a two-time All-American and was named the MIAC Defensive Player of the Year in both 2016 and 2017. Gregory helped lead the Tommies to one MIAC championship and two NCAA tournament appearances during her career.
These are just a few of the many talented athletes who have played for St. Thomas Women’s Soccer over the years. Each player has played a crucial role in the team’s success and helped build the program into the powerhouse it is today.
Training and Preparation: Behind the Scenes
Soccer is a physically demanding sport that requires constant training and preparation to achieve success. Behind the scenes, there is an immense amount of effort that goes into the development of professional soccer players. This involves a rigorous routine of physical training, mental strengthening, and strategic planning. The training and preparation that goes into building a strong soccer team is what sets it apart from the rest.
In order to build a successful soccer team, players must go through intricate training programs to perfect their skills. This includes a combination of strength and conditioning exercises, as well as technical skills training. These exercises help improve a player’s overall endurance, agility, and accuracy. With every training session, players gain the confidence needed to excel in their movements and refine their playing style.
| Training Techniques | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Cross-training | Improves overall fitness and reduces the risk of injury |
| Resistance training | Builds strength and improves power |
| Aerobic training | Boosts cardiovascular health and increases stamina |
In addition to physical preparation, mental preparation is also crucial for a successful soccer team. Players must be mentally strong and focused in order to stay disciplined and motivated throughout the training process. Mental training can be achieved through techniques such as visualization, meditation, and team-building exercises that help players develop mental toughness, concentration, and positive attitudes.
Finally, strategic planning is necessary for a soccer team’s success. This includes analyzing the competition, studying opponent teams’ playing styles, and developing game plans. Planning and strategizing minimizes the chances of errors and maximizes the likelihood of success. Coaches use the team’s strengths and weaknesses as a guide to create a winning game plan.
Building Character: Life Lessons from Soccer
Soccer is more than just a sport; it’s a character-building activity. Playing soccer teaches valuable life lessons that go beyond the pitch. Here are some lessons you can learn from playing soccer:
Teamwork: One of the most important values that soccer teaches is teamwork. Learning to work as a team is essential both on and off the field. In soccer, you can’t win alone; you need to rely on your teammates to succeed. This is a valuable lesson that you can apply to all aspects of your life.
Hard Work: Practice, practice, practice is the key to success in soccer. Players have to put in the time and effort required to train and improve their skills in order to succeed. This mentality of hard work translates into other areas of life. Whether it’s studying for an exam or working on a project, putting in work leads to success.
| Communication: | Sportsmanship: |
|---|---|
| In soccer, communication is key. Players must constantly communicate with their teammates to coordinate their movements and work together effectively. This skill is important in all aspects of life, from school projects to professional work environments. | Sportsmanship is also a key value taught by soccer. There are rules and guidelines that players must follow both on and off the field. Respect for the game, opponents, and officials is essential. This translates into real-life situations, where respect and sportsmanship go a long way in building positive relationships. |
Soccer isn’t just a game; it teaches valuable life lessons that can shape a person’s character. The values of teamwork, hard work, communication, and sportsmanship are just a few of the lessons that can be learned from playing this sport. So next time you step onto the soccer field, remember that the lessons you’ll learn will last long after the final whistle.