With the whistle about to blow and a season full of expectations, for the Mount Vernon Girls Soccer Team, soccer became more than just a game, it is a test of dedication, teamwork, and heart. Liliana Grosse, a sophomore in high school, is involved in soccer, volleyball, and Science Olympiad. Though she enjoys all of these extra curricular activities, soccer is the one she finds most exciting.
Playing soccer from an early age, Grosse was mostly influenced by her dad, Nate, who is the Varsity boys head soccer coach. Being an only sister in the family, Grosse has an older brother, Landon, who is a senior this year and has been playing soccer his whole life, even playing for three years and this year being his fourth. She also has two younger brothers that are involved in soccer.
Playing soccer as a forward, also known as a “striker,” means that Grosse’s main objective is to score goals. “To be a forward, you have to be quick, light on your feet,” Grosse said. Being able to accelerate and decelerate to the ball and beat defenders is what helps you succeed in this position, as well as the agility.
Starting early this school year, she played volleyball and after volleyball, she plays club volleyball to stay “active.” Playing volleyball is a key factor for Grosse because it ties in with soccer immensely. “Playing volleyball ropes in with soccer because of its focus, hand-eye coordination, footwork, and reflexes,” Grosse said. More so, volleyball has other contributions with its way of quickness and rapid pace of positioning you get put through.
As the season draws closer, Grosse attends morning strength and speed classes that the school offers and open gyms for extra practice to get herself in a routine of what she will experience every day in the spring.
Nearing spring break, the team experiences “intense workouts,” which involve conditioning, scrimmages, and fast foot technique drills to get the team ready. These intense workouts include sprints, ladder/cone drills, strength training of the lower body that incorporate squats and lunges, and finish off with passing drills and stretching. The purpose of these drills and workouts is to help with explosiveness.
Last season, the Mount Vernon’s girls soccer team had a record of 11-8-4. Going into her sophomore season, Grosse firmly believes that the team will overcome any challenge they’ll face. “Though we lost some seniors, we are gaining more people than we lost,” she said.
Addressing past teams’ weaknesses, Grosse expressed the struggles with being composed under pressure. “Team bonding and the environment we make will maintain a positive mindset as a team,” Grosse said.
Nearing the beginning of soccer, Grosse is ready for the games against Solon and CPU. “The rivalry game is what we all look forward to,” Grosse said.
With the knowledge of challenges they’ll face this season, “One of the most challenging struggles this season would have to be harder competition,” Grosse said. “Despite losing many seniors last season, team chemistry is getting even stronger, due to the large number of girls similar in age.”
Grosse, only being a sophomore, finds herself wanting the role that a team always needs, “I want to have the role of being a leader that can help the team be successful,” she said. To be a leader of a team like this, you have to be the teammate that can “motivate and commit to others’ visions,” Grosse said.
Sometimes sports can be the solution to people’s problems. It helps them take their thoughts off of things, and with that in mind, Grosse expresses the idea that soccer is a way for all of her teammates to “Stop thinking about all the things that happen off the field, which helps you feel free when you touch the field,” Grosse said.
Looking into the future, Grosse believes that this new season will bring lots of success with this team because of the tight knit group and culture that has come along, and it also helps you grow.
