Campus News

W SOCCER: Lady Tiger seniors reflect on program's growth and upcoming playoff appearance

MARSHALL, Texas (10/29/09) -- A question-and-answer session with Lady Tiger Soccer seniors Jenna Jones and Jacqui Saling, on the program's growth the last three years, their leadership roles and ETBU's return to the postseason:

Q: What has been the most satisfying thing for you as a leader on this year's team?

Jenna: The most satisfying thing for me as a senior has been the bond we have built as a team. In any sport, what goes on off the field or court has a lot to do with what gets done on it. Since we started rebuilding this program, we've prided ourselves in the fact that we settle problems before they affect the team. With so many girls it is easy for things to stir up causing divides among players, but over the course of this season our team has become tight-knit making my last year bittersweet.

Jacqui: Having a great group of girls to work with has been amazing. I haven't ever been on a team that was this supportive of each other and hard working while still having fun. I am proud of all the hard work these girls have put into this year and I am very proud to still be a part of it. This team, I can finally say after two years, is ONE!

Q: The growth of the program over the last three years -- what do you think has been the most important factor in the team's rise from just four wins in 2007 to going back to the playoffs in 2009?

Jenna: Obviously the most important factor is Coach Grant's recruiting. He has put in the hard work during the season and in the off-season to bring in players. He is never satified and pushes us to raise the bar each time we set foot on the field and he applies that concept to his recruiting. Despite our record in 2007, he brought in several solid players that rapidly improved our success, and with that achievement, he was able to bring in a large group of girls that will carry this program into the future.

Jacqui: Coach Grant and Coach Buzz did a great job recruiting the last two years, without them we might still be on a four-win season. Coach Grant and I have had our disagreements but no matter what I still think he has done a great job with the program and a great job adjusting to the team. Another thing that has helped is the players that have stuck it out through the years. The past two years were hard to deal with for some returners but we stuck through it and look where we are now. I'm not just talking about Jenna and I, all the seniors from last year and the year before have helped our success now because many of them still come back and support.

Q: You are going to make playoff trips as a freshman and then again as a senior -- what are some of the similarities and differences you see in the team when you were a freshman and now in your last year?

Jenna: What has stayed consisent with these teams is how we connect on the field. My freshman year we did not have much depth but the way we played on the field with each other was what made us excel. The same is true for this year. Although we struggle at times, when we step it up and play together, we are lethal. The difference in the two teams is our work ethic. We had the talent my freshman year but lacked the dedication. This year we have proven that we won't give up easily and we will battle to the end. Since August, we have worked hard through practice and overcome the weather conditions to reach our goal of making it to the tounament.

Jacqui: The relationship between this team and my freshman year team are completely different. Yeah, we still have our cliques -- we're girls -- but we are willing to go outside our cliques and become one. We have the kind of bond most teams want and need. We are willing to help each other out on and off the field. Whether it is soccer problems, school problems, or boy problems, we will support each other through it all. Another difference is the talent. We have more all-around team talent, rather than just individual talent and if someone is struggling we help pick each other up. We still have things to work on but this team is by far the best team, on and off the field, I will ever play for.

Q: The playoffs are clinched, what are your goals for the team over the last couple of regular season games?

Jenna: This season has been a rocky one as far as practice is concerned. In this last part of our season, we have spent more time in the the gym then we have on a field. Due to our lack of field practices, I think we have gotten in a slump to where we wait to play. This has cost us some goals and even games. I would like to see the team, as a unit, play a full 90 minutes. We have two more season games to do this in and they will be our biggest preparation for the conference tournament. I would like to see us individually focused so that we can come together and play to our full potential. This is something we must do in order to advance in the playoffs.

Jacqui: Win out! We need these wins to hold our spot and we need to continue to play well throughout the entire game. Just because we have a spot doesnt mean we need to stop. We still need this weekend. Louisiana College is a must win and Mississippi College is going to be a game we will have to fight for. There are no easy games this season. Teams come out every weekend with surprising results and we do not need to be that surprising result. Just because we are in the playoffs does not mean it is over. We still need to prove ourselves until the last minute of the last game.