WALES - After Kettle Moraine's 2-0 win over Brookfield East on Thursday, girls soccer head coach Kaitlin Kapitan and star defender Samantha Brown spoke of 'the little things' that have made the difference in the team's 6-0 start.
For a program that has gone from a sectional final appearance to a WIAA Division 1 state title appearance in Kapitan's first two seasons, the approach is one of fine-tuning a culture with proven results.
"They’re definitely motivated, I think that we know we can play with anyone, and it’s just about focusing about what’s in front of you. The next day, the next training session, and the results will come," Kapitan said.
Brown's senior season has her and her upperclassmen peers focused on maximizing each opportunity to improve throughout this season. The Lasers return all but three starters from last season's state championship-reaching team , and bringing newcomers along has been a priority for the senior class.
"We lost some great leaders last year, but so many people have been stepping up. We may miss our seniors that graduated, but still it’s like a flawless transition," Brown said. "We come into this season so motivated, whether it’s 5 a.m. in the weight room or staying late after training, just to be our best."
Fostering a 'family' environment is a tradition also manifested in Lasers players transcribing the word in marker on their forearm before every game. Brown has freshman Hannah Hoffman starting with her on the defensive end, and knows how critical relying on underclassmen players to mature and find confidence in their roles will be later in the season. Kapitan describes Brown as one of the three guarantees in life, along with death and taxes. The senior, however, assures the freshman is on track to take up that mantle.
"Hannah’s doing a great job, she’s going to be a mini-me by the end of the season," Brown said. "It’s intimidating being a freshman, but I’m happy to have her back there."
Kapitan added that the midfield duo of senior Megan Antczak and junior Monica Wawrzyn has been a critical component of the start so far this season, as has the determination of senior Eiley Henderson to continue finding scoring opportunities. Antczak assisted two goals on corner kicks in Thursday's win, including one finished by Wawrzyn.
"Those two (Antczak and Wawrzyn) in the midfield are doing a good job, not only with our attacking, but also helping organize when we’re defending. Obviously Sam’s a huge piece of what we do defensively, Eiley’s a huge goal-scorer for us, and she’s got a big target on her back," Kapitan said. "I think every team we’ve played, she’s been man-marked, she’s been double-teamed and she’s still performing and putting herself in good positions to see the goal."
The coach also highlighted goalkeeper Erica Panella, who came up with a late save Thursday to preserve a sixth-straight shutout defensively for the Lasers to start the season.
"I think it’s really everybody. Even our bench, their energy, their motivation is how we do it. Their efforts in practice, we don’t get game ready without what our training looks like, so it’s really a team effort," Kapitan said.
The Lasers continue their quest for a second-straight Classic 8 Conference title in a match with Oconomowoc next Tuesday. A May 14 date with Muskego, which defeated KM in the D1 title game last season, should also provide an intriguing late-season rematch.
"Everyone has something to prove, especially me and the team that was here last year, because we know how our season ended," Brown said. "We want to grow this year, we have a big role to play, we only graduated a few seniors, but we all have a great team dynamic and stuff to prove."
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 'Everyone has something to prove.' Kettle Moraine girls soccer team's approach paying off in 6-0 start
Most Popular
Comments / 0