Caity Healy | Editor-in-Chief
The skies darkened and the clouds rolled in as the two teams made their way to the turf. Raindrops rolling down their cheeks as the unforgiving showers would not surrender, the women showed their game-faces, signaling that they’d fight with the same tenacity as the storm overhead. On April 1, the ladies went head to head to start an unprecedented battle: Women’s Club Soccer versus Women’s Varsity Soccer.
Though the scrimmage, which was spearheaded by Women’s Club Soccer’s captain Haylie Shinsato and their coach Robert Oretaga took place on April Fool’s Day, there were no laughs; both teams meant business. According to Rip Horsey, Director of Campus Recreation, this was the first time in his 10 years at Western that a club sport played against a varsity one. Nobody was sure of what the result would be.
“Our team was really nervous … but also excited because it was a nice opportunity to be able to play each other and support each other,” said junior Spanish and art and design major Hannah Greene, who played for Club.
Meanwhile, Selene Konyn, junior pre-early childhood and elementary education major and Varsity player, noted a different energy as their team went into the game.
“Our energy was really high. We just got a new coach and we feel like we created a new identity as a team and we just really wanted to go out there and prove to everyone and prove to ourselves that we are good soccer players,” Konyn said.
From the beginning, the action started off slow. Both teams found themselves running up and down the field, playing an equal share of offense and defense. As the game progressed, Varsity was able to make their way down the field, forcing Club onto defense for a substantial portion of the half.
Despite this, Club wasn’t ready to wave their white flag; their defense was able to prevent the ball from reaching the goal in the face of the relentless attempts by Varsity’s offense. This kept up until, near the end of the half, Varsity made their first goal of the game. As the horn signaled the half, the scoreboard displayed 1-0, with Varsity in the lead.
Once the women made their way back to the field, Varsity seemed to have picked up momentum, as they were able to keep Club on defense for almost the entire half. Though Varsity’s offense was fierce, so was Club’s defense. Numerous goals were attempted; most were prevented. By the end of the half, Varsity was eager to win, and Club seemed to have lost their momentum. After two more goals were snuck in by Varsity, the scrimmage came to a close, 3-0.
Afterwards, Greene discussed what this scrimmage meant for her and her team.
“Our school is united and supporting each other, which I really appreciate … this showed that we can play but still be a team after all,” said Greene. “I hope it becomes (a tradition).”
Contact the author at howleditor@wou.edu
Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton
