By Heather Monahan
Features Editor
Steve Brdarski has stressed team unity since taking his role as head coach of the women’s soccer team. But every team needs guidance, and Brdarski said the three senior captains, goalkeeper Megan Junker, midfielder Alyssa Lapp and midfielder and defender Courtney Hoenicke, are doing a phenomenal job in their leadership positions.
“These three represent a good variety because they’re all different leaders in their own way,” Brdarski said. “They’ve done a really good job of following through and being held accountable for what the team does.”
Junker said it was a great honor to be named one of the captains for this season, and she’s welcomed the new responsibilities.
“I like to think I’ve taken the role of picking the girls up when they’re feeling down,” she said. “I’m always trying to be a positive presence to keep everyone working and motivated. I also feel like I’m being looked to more as a role model.”
According to Brdarski, Junker’s balance when leading is a major asset to the team.
“She’s a chameleon-like leader who has a lot of different things she can use,” Brdarski said. “If she needs to get angry, she gets angry. If she needs to build people up, she does it. If she needs to be quiet, she’s quiet.”
Lapp said she was honored to know her teammates and coach looked at her as a leader and was excited to take on a bigger leadership role.
“The bigger responsibilities are more unspoken,” she said. “We have to set an example for the team on and off the field. We have to get the team motivated and ready to play every game.”
Though Lapp is currently leading the team in goals scored, Brdarski said her impact goes far beyond that.
“She’s not one of those people who says, ‘This is what you need to do.’ She shows it,” he said. “She did her work in the offseason and came in ready to go. She leads by example, and I appreciate everything she’s put into this.”
Although she’s still fighting an injury that’s kept her on the sideline all season, Hoenicke has been Brdarski’s MVP so far.
“She’s dying to get on the field, yet she’s still found a way to be a leader and impact the team in some way,” Brdarski said. “It’s great to see that she can do that, but she’s still working to get back as fast as she can.”
He added her attitude throughout the injury has been admirable.
“It’s very easy for someone to say ‘I’m not playing, so I’m not part of it’ when they’re injured and look at it from a selfish perspective” Brdarski said. “But there’s nothing selfish about Courtney. She’s been all in it for the team and you can hear it.”
Hoenicke said that being a captain without being on the field is difficult.
“I’ve always been comfortable being a leader, but as far as being injured goes I have to try and make sure I don’t sound like I’m trying to be their coach,” she said.
While the title of captain is new for the three seniors, Brdarski believes the responsibility is nothing new to them.
“They’ve been doing this since before I got here,” he said. “They were responsible for the team before there was a coach in place.”
One of their most important responsibilities has been helping the team get along.
“We have to help create good team chemistry by bringing everyone together and making sure they know we have their backs no matter what,” Lapp said.
Junker said there’s been no problem with team bonding this year.
“Every year we say ‘This is the closest we’ve ever been,’ and I think it’s still true,” she said. “If at all possible, we get closer as a team every year. I love all of my teammates and am so blessed to be part of this team.”
Though Lapp, Junker and Hoenicke are the only three who hold the title of captain, Brdarski said the team depends on all the seniors as leaders.
“Leadership is a pretty big deal, so you need to have the class buy into the idea that they have to be working at it every day and helping each other out,” he said. “Right now, we depend on all the seniors as leaders. We’re holding them all accountable.”
In their final season, Lapp and Junker both said they have similar goals.
“Our goal for this year, as it is every year, is to win the A-10 Tournament,” Lapp said. “I hope this will be our year, and I really believe it can be. It’s unbelievable that this is my last year, and I will play my heart out in every game and encourage teammates to do the same.”
While Junker has similar long-term goals, she’s also focusing on the present.
“I’m taking it one game at a time,” she said. “The season is already flying by, and I’m just focusing on the next opponent and how I can help my team beat them.”
