Leading the Dark Horses defense

The Clinton High and the Dark Horse pitch was unusually empty as the ladies soccer team retreated indoors so they could practice before their game against Red Springs on Friday.

The auxiliary gym was loud as the ladies were jogging and talking in the small area. Evan Gillespie, with her bright red hair, was hard to miss under the fluorescent lighting, same as when you see her on the pitch, charging like a fireball in defense of her keeper. Her play as a center back is noted for her persistent and tough challenges of opposing strikers, with a heated passion, but you would never notice this outside the pitch due to her bubbly personality.

Coach Adam Smith yelled out “G, come here.”

The exchange was pleasant as he informed her The Independent wanted to talk to her and she was in complete disbelief. The excitable junior came over to the corner of the gym, fidgety with excitement and nerves. Once that first question was asked, she settled in, though you could hear the love for the game in her tone.

Gillespie has been playing soccer for most of her life, starting around four years old in the rec league and played with the local Clinton club. Gillespie didn’t miss a beat and in one breath, she listed off the positions she’s played throughout her career before settling into the backfield. Her role on the Lady Horses is center back, a position that requires skill, grit and presence of mind to anticipate the opposing striker’s next move.

On the pitch, there is no doubt her passion for the position as she can be routinely seen, challenging strikers.

“In my opinion, defense wins games,” she said, “That’s what attracts me to position, the pressure. As the center back, I’m the last defender oftentimes. So the pressure of having to get the ball back and pushes me to play better.”

With this kind of pressure there is a downside as Gillespie explained the challenges of the role. When discussing the struggles of playing such an intense role, she took time to gather her thoughts together. As a center back and being that last line, one misstep or bad pass could leave the net open and the keeper off balanced. She described further that feeling and how she has a tendency to get in her own head.

“I get frustrated with myself when I make a mistake and question if I’ll make that same mistake again,” she went on. “The pressure pushes me but it can struggle, because when I make a mistake, I just overthink and get in my own head.”

Though this happens, she has learned to overcome that feeling and said she has learned to rely on her teammates in those moments. She said that her friendship and bond with the back four are tight on and off the pitch, citing how that bond has helped her give herself a break and are willing to work together and help her overcome those thoughts.

Gillespie is confident in her team as the Lady Horses continue on their trek through the SAC-6 competition. After a rough go of it earlier in the season, she is adamant that the team is in their groove and if they keep at it, pushing to improve they can go all the way.