SPORTS
New coach brings motivating approach to UW
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Also by Kevin Hagstrom:
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- Soccer returns to McClain Center (March 25, 2004)
by Kevin Hagstrom
Friday, August 31, 2007
Drenched in sweat from a strenuous preseason workout, members of the women's soccer team slowed in exhaustion. As they did, a new, motivating voice echoed off of the McClain Center walls: "Are you willing to give in if you're not winning?" Once the players heard that, tired as they were just seconds before, they ran with more spring in their step and pushed through the entirety of the drill.
Since Paula Wilkins took over the head coaching job last January change — philosophy, workouts, technique, as well as the physical difference of a new coaching staff — has become the motivating spirit surrounding 25 young women.
The players think the change is good.
"We're loving it and things have definitely gotten better," said senior co-captain Ann Eshun, who led the team with seven assists in 2006. "The overall attitude is there."
Since she took over,, Wilkins has pushed the women's soccer team to the limit, but only because she wants to see them succeed.
"They've hung in there with my mentality," Wilkins said. "I have been really hard on them, but they keep bouncing back, keep getting a little bit better.
"I'm trying to get them to a point faster than I think feasibly possible but I might keep pushing them because I want them to be successful."
Some philosophies that differ from what Dean Duerst taught in his 13 years as head coach include giving meaning to the most minute of details.
"The way we work technically is all about how we're going to put it together in the big picture," senior co-captain Katy Meuer said. "Everything is looking toward the big picture and connecting it together. Every little warm-up … she places it in a way that you can look at it to understand how you can use this little, tiny detail in the game that we're going to play."
Wilkins believes that if players aren't taught the correct ideologies in practice, or forced to amend lax mentalities in practice, they'll develop bad habits for games.
"I think that players don't think about that stuff," Wilkins said. "When training, I think they need to have that mentality that if you give in on things even in practice it becomes part of your nature and it doesn't help us, so we want to make sure we ingrain what we possibly can in them.
"They need to keep being reminded of where they need to be and where they're going."
It is too early to tell where Wisconsin will finish this season. Especially since it hasn't even completed its fall workout regimen. But to get some perspective, according to Big Ten coaches, the Badgers will finish seventh in an 11 team pack.
The Big Ten season itself should be an interesting one; it can be broken down into two parts: the contenders and everyone else.
The best of the contenders is the school Wilkins left, Penn State. It returns Aubrey Aden-Buie and Sheree Gray, two All-Big Ten first team members. A first-place finish this year would give the Nittany Lions their 10th consecutive Big Ten regular season championship.
Nationally ranked Purdue (No. 15) and Illinois (No. 20) should also be in the mix. The Boilermakers return top forward Parrissa Eyorokon, while the Illini return some of the conference's best: Ella Masar, Emily Zurrer and Chichi Nweke, who took home Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Co-Player of the Year and Freshman Player of the Year honors, respectively.
"I think that the typical teams, the Penn States, the Illinois, the Ohio States and the Purdues are going to be where they are, and I think after that it's a free-for-all," Wilkins said. "Everyone beat everyone last year. It will be interesting to see."
Last season Wisconsin finished in a tie for seventh.
The team will be looking to improve upon its 7-9-3 record, returning 12 letterwinners and seven starters. In order to do so, UW must fill the void left by three-time All-Big Ten selection Kara Kabellis, who is the program's ninth leading goal scorer.
Kabellis and current redshirt junior Taylor Walsh were UW's 2006 offensive MVP's. They accounted for 37 percent of the team's offense. Wilkins will be looking for a more balanced attack this season.
Junior Sheri Ferron and sophomore Krista Liskevych are early season candidates to contribute in the form of scoring goals with Walsh. The two combined for 6 goals in 2006.
One positive that comes out of being pre-ranked in the middle of the pack, according to Meuer, is that there isn't as much pressure on the team to succeed.
"The great thing about this team is we have nothing to lose; everyone counts us out already and we're always going to be the underdog," she said. "They're going to think it's a roll-over game, and they're not going to count on us working hard or doing anything possibly right and I think that's the best advantage we hold over teams."
As fall camp concludes and the season begins, every member of the team understands that it is up to her to play at a high level. Wilkins knows that success won't happen right away, but the commitment from the players is there.
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