North Carolina State University Athletics
Pack Perspective - Leyah Hall-Robinson
5/21/2021 10:28:00 AM | Women's Soccer
*Editor's Note: After the NC State women's soccer team opted out of the 2020 season due to a depleted roster as an indirect impact of COVID-19, the squad played a nine-game spring schedule and made a lot of strides towards its overall goals as a program. The following is a piece written by Leyah Hall-Robinson on her perspective of the team's spring season.
I believe the spring season was a summation of the work that we as a team, along with our coaches, have put in throughout the past several months. We took advantage of not playing in the fall and turned it into a positive. We were able to work on our individual skills throughout the fall, which is unprecedented in college soccer.
Along with working on our individual skills, we were able to bond as a team because we had more time to get to know each other more on and off the field. A positive fall for any team hinges on several pieces to the success metric synchronizing just right – a good work ethic, team chemistry, leadership, a high soccer IQ, good film study and limiting injuries. As a team we each must be willing to give it our all every day, believe in each other and care about one another as young women, make everyone feel a part of the Wolfpack family, utilize our strengths and weaknesses, be observant in our film studies and take our conditioning, diet and exercise very seriously to try and prevent injuries.
When the spring season arrived, there was a high level of excitement because we had not played a game in over a year, as well as anticipation because we were finally able to compete against other teams. The first five games were against nonconference teams and our record was 4-0-1. The things we worked on in practice all these months were incorporated into our games - we had control of possession, our defense was solid, the midfield won their battles, and the forwards were getting good chances. The last four games of the season were all against Power Five teams, including three from the ACC. Throughout the final stretch of the schedule we continued to work on our stamina, took advantage of our opportunities in front of goal and continued to build team chemistry. We even ended the season on a high note by beating Boston College in comeback fashion.
To keep building team chemistry throughout the semester we did 'coffee chats' in smaller groups. Coffee chats were dates with four to five teammates, usually ones we didn't talk to on a daily basis, and we would go somewhere, eat food or drink coffee, and talk about anything. This helped us get to know each other on a deeper level and spend more time with each other off the field. It was something we did in the fall, and because of its success decided to continue it this spring.
Despite the limited numbers on our roster, we competed well throughout the entire spring. I don't believe we exceeded expectations because our goal is to win every time we step onto the field, but we showed great progress. It was impressive what we accomplished even with the limited numbers our team had - the team finished with a winning record, everyone played well, and we showed that NC State continues to be a force in the soccer world even with the loss of some exceptional players.
The excitement level for the fall is extremely high. We have a tremendous schedule and a great compliment of incoming freshmen. We can't wait to all get back to campus in August and continue to work towards the expectations we have set out, which are to compete for an ACC and NCAA Championship title.
I believe the spring season was a summation of the work that we as a team, along with our coaches, have put in throughout the past several months. We took advantage of not playing in the fall and turned it into a positive. We were able to work on our individual skills throughout the fall, which is unprecedented in college soccer.
Along with working on our individual skills, we were able to bond as a team because we had more time to get to know each other more on and off the field. A positive fall for any team hinges on several pieces to the success metric synchronizing just right – a good work ethic, team chemistry, leadership, a high soccer IQ, good film study and limiting injuries. As a team we each must be willing to give it our all every day, believe in each other and care about one another as young women, make everyone feel a part of the Wolfpack family, utilize our strengths and weaknesses, be observant in our film studies and take our conditioning, diet and exercise very seriously to try and prevent injuries.
When the spring season arrived, there was a high level of excitement because we had not played a game in over a year, as well as anticipation because we were finally able to compete against other teams. The first five games were against nonconference teams and our record was 4-0-1. The things we worked on in practice all these months were incorporated into our games - we had control of possession, our defense was solid, the midfield won their battles, and the forwards were getting good chances. The last four games of the season were all against Power Five teams, including three from the ACC. Throughout the final stretch of the schedule we continued to work on our stamina, took advantage of our opportunities in front of goal and continued to build team chemistry. We even ended the season on a high note by beating Boston College in comeback fashion.
To keep building team chemistry throughout the semester we did 'coffee chats' in smaller groups. Coffee chats were dates with four to five teammates, usually ones we didn't talk to on a daily basis, and we would go somewhere, eat food or drink coffee, and talk about anything. This helped us get to know each other on a deeper level and spend more time with each other off the field. It was something we did in the fall, and because of its success decided to continue it this spring.
Despite the limited numbers on our roster, we competed well throughout the entire spring. I don't believe we exceeded expectations because our goal is to win every time we step onto the field, but we showed great progress. It was impressive what we accomplished even with the limited numbers our team had - the team finished with a winning record, everyone played well, and we showed that NC State continues to be a force in the soccer world even with the loss of some exceptional players.
The excitement level for the fall is extremely high. We have a tremendous schedule and a great compliment of incoming freshmen. We can't wait to all get back to campus in August and continue to work towards the expectations we have set out, which are to compete for an ACC and NCAA Championship title.
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