By Heather Monahan
Features Editor
A great soccer player isn’t defined only by their on-field performance. Alyssa Lapp, senior midfielder for the St. Bonaventure women’s soccer team, is an excellent example of this according to her coach and teammates.
Head Coach Steve Brdarski said he, like many coaches, has specific traits he looks for in a player for him, Lapp shows many of these qualities.
“She goes the extra mile in terms of work ethic, and in terms of attitude, she’s never given me a problem,” Brdarski said. “She’s always trying to help solve things. She understands the phrase ‘Yes, coach,’ and uses it often.”
Brdarski said her ability to lead without putting others down is another trait that makes Lapp a great player.
“She never attacks anybody, she builds people up and really works with them,” he said. “She doesn’t take into account who you are, what you are, what you did or what the relationship is. She’ll make it work.”
Her level-headed nature is what makes her an easy player to work with, both from a coach’s perspective and a teammate’s, and why she’s so respected, according to Brdarski.
Lapp’s dedication and care for the team are also evident when she’s on the field.
“If you look at her intensity level, there are times where she runs herself ragged,” Brdarski said. “She can barely move off the field, and you know that she goes above and beyond her pain tolerance, fitness level and mental fortitude to do things for her team. Caring that much about your team is a huge thing.”
Brdarski also said he’s been impressed with Lapp’s versatility on the field and how she doesn’t question or fight his choices.
“She’s our leading goal scorer, and I think some people would get caught up in the idea of statistics,” he said. “When we asked her to play a different role on the team, she didn’t say ‘I wanna score goals, or I wanna do this, I wanna do that.’ She wanted to help the team and she believes in the greater good of the team.”
A testimony to Lapp’s natural skill is her ability to find the net in three out of the four most recent Bonnies games.
“She’s always finding a way to get through traffic. She doesn’t score goals all by herself where she has plenty of time to do it,” Brdarski said. “She’s found ways to finish in a lot of different ways. I’m pretty sure the only way she hasn’t found a way is with her head, so that’s probably how she’s going to score her next goal.”
Though Lapp’s pure skill and dedication are most of what makes her a great team player both on the field and off, Brdarski said it’s important to acknowledge the support system she has as well, including her family.
“Her sister played here, so there’s a little bit of a legacy right there,” he said. “Her dad is an ultimate soccer fan. I think he’s played a really big part in her life.”
In Lapp’s final season as a Bonnie, the coaching staff is looking to make the most out of the time she still has at the university.
“As a coach, every practice, meeting and game I’m going to take the most out of it in terms of our relationship. I know it’s going to be short-lived, it’s not going to be four years and I’m going to miss her a lot,” Brdarski said. “But I’m not thinking about that now. What I’m thinking about is what more she can do on the field and how she can be effective for our program.”
