How the Women’s Soccer Team Builds Trust and Resilience

The start of an athletic season brings new challenges, but the McMurry Women’s Soccer team shows consistent resilience and commitment on the field. 

I interviewed sophomore forward Genevieve Dorasami, who recently scored her first goal of the season against Trinity University on September 19th. The game between Trinity and McMurry was tight, and although McMurry lost, they carried their weight in an impressive display of skill. Winning a goal against Trinity was no easy feat, but after speaking to Dorasami, I am not surprised. Dorasami’s passion for soccer is undeniable. In fact, when growing up, soccer was a huge part of her and her family’s life. Her parents were both active players, and her father coached the first team she was a part of, called the “Cheetos,” which she played on until McMurry. 

Considering this is her second year on the McMurry team, I was curious if there were any differences between this season and last season. According to Dorasami, the team has “crafted a beautiful and close kit relationship, giving each other a voice and role on our team.” This strong connection helps the team on and off the field. Even the freshman players have easily bonded with the team. Although there are fewer freshman players, they came in with “great aptitude and each with their own amazing flair to the team.” 

Although they have lost some players from last year, Dorasami looks forward to doing even better this year, with stronger competition, and going into conference less timid and more confident as a team. Building a team up at the start of the season can be difficult, especially when many great players graduated and new ones came in. She also points out that with new chemistry and talent, they had to try out different things, like having players adapt to new positions. This can be “frustrating and discouraging at times,” but each player has “stepped up and put in the work to adjust and be successful,” which shows their “grit and tenacity” as a team.

Lastly, I was interested to know what some fans might not know about the work that goes into college soccer. Dorasami emphasised the resilience and thick skin she has built as a result of soccer. Any collegiate sport can be emotionally draining, as well as rewarding. “A change in playing time or a mistake on the field can be very hard to handle and change the way a player feels about their sport.” 

When soccer became a big part of Dorasami’s life, she found herself putting her every move on the field under a microscope, which can become overwhelming. Learning how to take things on the chin and quickly recover was no easy feat, but according to her, remembering to have fun and how blessed she is to play a sport she loves with some of her best friends helps her stay grounded!

Overall, the Women’s soccer team has displayed incredible teamwork, skill, and resilience. If they keep it up, I don’t doubt that they will go far in their conference and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament. Their next game is against Howard Payne University today at 5 pm at the Wilford Moore Stadium. Make sure to stop by and cheer on our incredible War Hawks!

More information on games can be found on the Soccer schedule.