October 26, 2025 • 24 mins
On this episode of the CIAC Glory Days Podcast, host Jada Mirabelle is joined by Coginchaug Girls Soccer, the 2024 CIAC Class S State Champions! Head Coach Liam Isleib and standout players Allison Booth and Kaelyn Connell reflect on their historic journey to the program’s first-ever state championship last season. They share insights into the team’s culture, and the structure that helped turn a dream season into reality.
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Episode Transcript
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SPEAKER_02 (00:00):
Welcome to CIEC's Glory Days Podcast.
I'm your host, Jada Mirabel, andtoday I'm joined by Coginchog
Girls Soccer, the 2024 Class SCIEC State Champions.
I'm joined by Kaelin Connell,Alison Booth, and head coach
Liam Islib.
Thanks for joining me today.
SPEAKER_04 (00:14):
Thanks for having us.
SPEAKER_00 (00:15):
Thank you.
SPEAKER_02 (00:16):
Excited to hear your stories about last season.
So, coach, this past season wasyour first season as the head
coach for Coginchog GirlsSoccer.
And tell me what changes did youimplement to help mold this team
into the championship-winningteam that they are?
Because last year was the firststate championship appearance.
SPEAKER_04 (00:30):
Right.
I think the big thing I wantedto bring was consistency.
They've had three differentcoaches in the last three years.
And so I kind of really wantedto build a routine with them.
It's tough, you know, for themto have a different different
coach each year who has adifferent playing style and
maybe a different formation andideas.
So I wanted to create, you know,consistent workouts, consistent
practices, consistent games, youknow, and you know, I think it
(00:52):
really like benefited them tohave that routine, you know, and
have that consist consistency.
SPEAKER_02 (00:57):
So absolutely.
Athletes need structure to helphelp grow and be successful.
So what other core values didyou try to implement within the
program besides thatconsistency?
SPEAKER_04 (01:06):
It's gonna sound kind of lame, but I think, you
know, kind of building thatwinning mentality.
And I think a lot of it has todo with that last question of
being consistent.
And I mean, I think it reallybenefits them, you know, to have
a coach, I think, for the firsttime in their career for
back-to-back years.
You know, they've had theirentire year, they've had a
different coach, so you know,now they know what to expect.
You know, now they know how preseason's preseason's gonna go,
how workouts are gonna go, howpractices are gonna go, you
(01:28):
know, in games and everythinglike that.
And I think it's gonna be reallybeneficial.
SPEAKER_02 (01:31):
Definitely.
It helps everyone get a feel forit and not have to go blind to
the season, you know what toexpect.
SPEAKER_04 (01:36):
Right.
SPEAKER_02 (01:36):
So, how do you approach building team
chemistry, especially early onin the season?
SPEAKER_04 (01:40):
Um, I think a lot of it's during the summertime, and
I think that the two extrapractices we have now um is
really good for especially thefreshmen coming in.
Um they get to see how practicesare run, you know, and they get
to see we have summer leaguegames, we have workouts, and
they get to meet all the teams.
And I think it's reallybeneficial, especially for Cog
and Child, because we're a verysmall program.
We only had 22 girls in the teamlast year, so it was only one
(02:02):
team.
And you see these bigger schoolsthat have a freshman team, a JV
team, and a varsity team, andthey all have different coaches
and they all all have differentideas.
And every all of our team comestogether.
We see each other every singleday for maybe half the year or
five months of the year.
So we get to know each other andwe build that chemistry that
way.
And it's also like beneficial inthe way where maybe a a player
(02:22):
who got put on the freshman teamor the JV team, I mean, they
don't really get theopportunities to move up.
And I see these players everysingle day, and I give chances
to younger players.
And you know, how last yearabout or over 50% of the team
was underclassmen.
And we had yeah, two startingfreshmen backs, and our
goalkeepers are freshmen aswell, and they started basically
almost every game that they wereavailable.
(02:43):
So it was it's really beneficialand it gives the opportunity to
the underclassmen.
SPEAKER_02 (02:46):
Definitely to have the opportunity, it's a great
chance for students.
SPEAKER_04 (02:49):
Right.
SPEAKER_02 (02:49):
So Cogenthog had quite the run through the
regular season.
You guys defeated Cromwell inthe state semifinals, who were
the reigning champs, and thenthat was before facing Morgan
for the final, but before thatyou had faced them two times
prior, once in the regularseason where you had lost by
five goals, then once inshorelines where you had lost by
four, but what changed for thatthird and final matchup?
Because obviously the outcomewas very different.
SPEAKER_01 (03:12):
Um I'm pretty sure Morgan just went in like really
strongly, thinking that they'rejust gonna beat us as soon as
the game started.
I feel like they didn't even goout that strong, but I think we
went out knowing like we'regonna get us.
Yeah, this is just another game.
Like we've never seen this teambefore, they never seen us.
We just need to go out, like,play like this is our last game
(03:33):
of the season because it is, andjust give it our all.
SPEAKER_02 (03:35):
Yeah, just be in the moment.
Clean slate.
Yeah, it's who it's who shows upthe day the most.
It doesn't matter if you've lostto them pr in the past.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (03:42):
We did change a lot tactically as well.
I think we played a little bitdifferent style as well.
Um, we watched a lot of film,yeah, and we talked kind of
talked about what our strengthswere and then how we are how we
struggled in those first twogames against them.
And a lot of it wasself-inflicted.
We made a lot of mistakes in theback and building up, and they
and Morgan's a very good team,and they capitalized them.
Um so we kind of decided we weregonna play a little more direct.
(04:03):
So you know, we kind of playedeverything long and we use our
strength up top, which was ourspeed, you know, to kind of get
in behind the defense and playin their end and make them make
the mistakes.
Um so that was kind of like ourgame plan, and then we kind of
changed up a little bit.
SPEAKER_02 (04:15):
So Yeah, but playing them those two times probably
really helped you see theirstrengths and their weaknesses.
SPEAKER_01 (04:19):
For the final game, I remember we changed our back
line and then our like attackline, like our top three, we
like learned how to play witheach other like even better.
And even during the Shorelinesgame, I feel like we figured out
how to get by them.
We just couldn't figure out howto finish.
But I think that almost workedout better for us in the end
because they didn't really beable to stop us.
SPEAKER_04 (04:43):
I think pressure was a big factor as well, and I
think they felt it a lot morethan we did.
I think them beating us by thatmuch those first two games,
everyone was expecting them tokill us again.
And so I think we us being theunderdogs, we really didn't feel
as much pressure as them.
I mean, we still were nervous, Icould tell.
And I was nervous just being onthe sideline, but I think it'll
affect them a lot more thanespecially in overtime and pel
(05:05):
in the kicks.
You could definitely see it.
SPEAKER_02 (05:06):
Yeah, so yeah, it it it shifts when it gets down to
that to the wire like that.
Yeah.
So they had gotten on the boardfirst, and then you guys had
scored and gotten back in thehalfway through the second.
So Alison, you scored theawesome tying goal.
So tell us about that moment.
What did you see from thatperspective?
SPEAKER_01 (05:21):
Um so this is like what I remember.
I just like the adrenaline, justlike don't really remember it
like exactly, but I do rememberso Sophie Farr had the ball in
the middle, and I was playingright wing, so I started making
a run um on like the outside oftheir outside back, and I saw
her look up, so I just startedsprinting, making sure I stayed
(05:42):
on the side.
She saw me, and she just like weplayed like really good
together, so she just knewexactly where I was gonna be.
So and I knew pretty much whereshe'd send it, and that's where
I found it.
I got the ball right past theirgoalie.
All I remember is being likereally surprised, and I ran to
Kaylin actually.
I was like the first person Isaw, and I just ran too.
(06:05):
I think it was just likeincredible that actually
happened.
SPEAKER_02 (06:09):
Definitely.
Yeah, I remember as soon as youscored it, the entire crowd just
jumped up.
They all had the Ted Lasso signsup.
They were all so excited.
Was that a theme throughout theentire season?
Or was it?
Was it?
SPEAKER_03 (06:20):
Yeah, she was she was um really passionate about
like just getting everybody tobe high spirits and cheering for
us.
So she made like I don't evenknow how many she made, but it
was like yellow, yeah, likethese yellow signs.
I didn't even know she made themtoo, but she had stayed up like
making them all night and Idon't know.
(06:40):
So that's awesome.
SPEAKER_04 (06:41):
Yeah, you should have seen the just for us
getting onto the bus to go tothe game, the amount of people
there.
They had like a party just forus getting on the bus.
Yeah, yeah.
Well, that's awesome.
SPEAKER_03 (06:49):
We had a surprise send-off party.
SPEAKER_04 (06:50):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (06:51):
Oh, that's so special.
SPEAKER_04 (06:52):
Yeah, the town was really into it, and probably
half the town was there.
SPEAKER_01 (06:54):
So yeah, we had the entire like boys' team like made
a sign for each of us and stufflike that.
Then like the bus was decorated.
SPEAKER_02 (07:01):
Oh, that's awesome.
Yeah, that community reallymakes a big difference though.
We were going into those bigmoments.
SPEAKER_03 (07:06):
But boosted us up, I think, a lot.
SPEAKER_02 (07:07):
Yeah, yeah, definitely.
You had definitely one of thebiggest crowds.
Remember the kids, like therewas they had the all spelled out
on a letter on your shirt, thethe mascot.
Yeah.
That was special.
So after that tie in goal, didthe strategy shift before we
headed into double overtime?
SPEAKER_04 (07:22):
So not really.
Um we did not want to go topelic kicks.
Um I mean, some coaches wouldkind of sit in and just hope,
you know, we go to a tie, maybewe can beat them at penalty
kicks.
But we had been practicingpenalty kicks for the entire
postseason, you know, they'relaughing, they're laughing.
And I think it progressively gotworse and worse every day we did
it.
Really?
And it was, yeah, it was notgood.
And I remember turning to myassistant Nick and being like,
(07:44):
after the second overtime, beinglike, I would gladly take coach
uh co-champions right nowbecause I did not want to go to
penalty kicks.
Um and funny story is we getinto penalty kicks, and uh I had
set like a lineup, our first 10players, and all of a sudden we
get into the huddle and and Iwon't name names, but there are
a couple players who are like, Idon't want to take one anymore.
I don't want to take one.
(08:04):
So I had to scramble and findnew players to get in the
lineup, and it took us, I don'tknow, there was a delay of me
trying to write everyone's namedown and get them in order, and
it was just a little bit ofchaos.
Um, but they did well.
And we had uh we had a freshmanand a sophomore, a freshman who
didn't play at all the entiregame step up and being compelled
to kick.
And a sophomore as well.
So yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (08:23):
You have to shift in those moments quickly sometimes,
but it worked out for the best.
Absolutely.
Did you give like a speechbefore the PKs to get everyone
calm or no?
SPEAKER_04 (08:32):
Like I said, it was chaos.
And I was like just yeah, tryingto get it going, and you know,
we practiced so much, and I justsaid I did get to talk to them
when they they all walked toHatfield, and I had to walk up
and they write their names downso the announcer could do the
order.
And I just basically said, youknow, do what we've been working
on, practice.
You know, don't worry about thefans, don't worry about the
goalkeeper, block outeverything, and just do what
you've been working on for inthe practice for the last couple
weeks.
SPEAKER_03 (08:50):
So that's what it comes down to.
Right.
Every time I went in the net, wewere like screaming, just
jumping up and down.
SPEAKER_01 (08:55):
We were just like so happy, like for all of our like
all of our like ones thatactually went in, because like
yeah, after practices, that wasjust like a win for us.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (09:05):
And when Anna saved them, oh my god.
SPEAKER_01 (09:07):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (09:07):
Yeah, she had in some incredible saves.
SPEAKER_04 (09:09):
Awesome goal later.
Yeah, she played really well.
SPEAKER_02 (09:10):
Only a freshman, too.
Yeah.
Yeah.
That that what an advantage thatyou had such a young team last
year, and then you're going tothe the new season with almost
the same team.
So I'm sure you learned manydifferent lessons from just that
championship game.
But what were your key takeawaysfrom last season that you
learned?
SPEAKER_01 (09:26):
Um pretty much that you just have to keep working.
Because like my freshman year,we definitely did not have the
best like record.
I think we won three games allyear.
We did not make states, we didnot make shorelines.
Um, a team that we like beatpretty badly made states over
(09:46):
us.
So it pretty much was like,okay, my sophomore year, like
just gotta keep working.
Um like even if we don't do thatgood.
Like after Shorelines, I waslike, states, like I feel like
we got this.
Like I remember like talking tolike one of the girls on the
team, and I was like, I think wegot this one.
Um but we definitely put in somuch work.
(10:10):
Um we did like lots of likerunning, but it wasn't even just
like running, it was like withthe ball.
We got a lot of touches, we didlots of shooting.
Like Liam pulled like differentpositions aside to make sure
that we got what we needed, butit wasn't just like um like
that's kind of when he changedup the consistency, but I think
(10:30):
that's what we needed becauselike we actually worked on what
we like needed.
SPEAKER_02 (10:35):
That would make a big difference focusing on the
different skills for eachdifferent group.
SPEAKER_03 (10:39):
Yeah, I think the biggest thing for me, like
especially because I had threedifferent coaches like every
single year.
So this year is the only year,like Liam returning and having
the same coaches was really goodfor me to see.
And um I think that the biggestthing is the team camaraderie,
like we just grew so much, thegirls in general.
(11:02):
I think like some of my bestfriends, like I it's only me and
one other teammate um in mygrade because I'm a really small
grade.
Um, so like having the team andhaving friendships like all
different ages, and we all justlike bond really well,
especially in like that highintensity, high emotion game
setting.
Um, it just forms such goodrelationships with the other
(11:25):
teammates, and I think that'sreally what um strengthens our
team at the end of the day.
SPEAKER_02 (11:30):
Definitely.
SPEAKER_04 (11:31):
They're not gonna like this, but I think what I
learned most is I'm gonna beable to push them more, or I
should be pushing them more.
I didn't really know what toexpect, really, to come again.
That's my first year, and Ididn't know how you know how
well we would do.
Um, but I know I can push someharder now, and so just get
better each year.
SPEAKER_02 (11:46):
Yes, exactly.
SPEAKER_04 (11:47):
We need to raise our levels because next year is
gonna be even harder and the barset high now.
SPEAKER_02 (11:51):
How has being an athlete shaped who you are off
the field?
SPEAKER_01 (11:55):
Um I think it's like made me almost like a better
person.
Like I've gotten better withlike working with people.
Um it's taught me how to be likea harder worker, especially like
in school, um even like out ofschool, just like making sure
I'm not like almost like lazy,like I'm always doing something.
(12:16):
Like, even if it's just likeworking for soccer, like having
a job, working stuff for school,just like working around the
house.
Like, I think it's made me abetter person like that.
I know how to communicate betterwith people.
Um, I've gotten better aboutlike not tearing people down,
like because everyone makesmistakes, so yeah, like I
(12:38):
wouldn't want people tearing medown, so I make sure, especially
the incoming freshmen, I makesure that they are like
comfortable on the fields thatthey know that their mistakes
are okay as long as they'reactually trying.
Yeah, I think that's whatmatters at the end of the day,
as long as you're trying.
Um but yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (12:55):
Yeah, that's a great perspective to have.
I think for me, like I totallyagree with everything Allie
said, but also like justbuilding an athlete, like being
able to build discipline, likephysically, also like really
relates and and doing itmentally for school and other
whatever whatever other pursuitslike that you like doing.
Um so like being an athlete,like getting up and going to
(13:17):
practice and putting in hardwork can also just make you want
to chase like that feeling ofsuccess a little more.
And so, like, especially myjunior year, like we won states,
and that was like just fuelingme to be like, all right, now I
can now I'm gonna go to schooland I'm gonna work as hard as I
can here, and it really justlike domino effect, I I think
leads into wanting to chase morefor yourself, and so I think
(13:40):
that all starts in being anathlete.
SPEAKER_02 (13:42):
Yeah, that's awesome.
There's so many life skills youcould take from sports.
And coach, you were a CICathlete as well?
SPEAKER_04 (13:47):
Yes.
I played at Adam Killingworth.
Yes.
SPEAKER_02 (13:51):
Remember any takeaways, any life lessons that
you learn now looking back?
SPEAKER_04 (13:54):
Uh I don't think I'm an athlete any longer, so uh I
don't know if I can comment onthat.
But it's probably like theysaid, like the teamwork stuff
and the camaraderie and having aroutine and having a schedule,
and that's kind of what a bigthing I wanted to bring in,
obviously, as well.
SPEAKER_02 (14:05):
So that's super important to showcase.
So how do each of you preparementally and physically for a
game?
How do you get into that winningmindset?
SPEAKER_01 (14:14):
Um so I usually just like listen to music before
games.
Um before games I try and getlike a couple of shots on net,
like I'll put a ball on the topof the six-yard box and I'll
just take like shots.
I'm not even trying to place it,I'm just trying to like figure
out my like foot on the ball.
(14:35):
Um then I do some like dribblingon the side just to like get my
touches down kind of.
And then I think like ourwarm-up is pretty good because
it gets like crosses, shooting,um, ball skills, just like all
warmed up, stretching.
I think that's like pretty muchit.
Crossing.
SPEAKER_03 (14:54):
I I said crossing the um throw the routine out of
the um I think uh we do likesmall side possession like
before games, which is whichreally helps us get ready to
like um face those 1v1s in likereal game time.
And also like most importantly,I think like music is such a big
thing.
Like we'll put on our playlist,our team playlist.
(15:15):
We'll put it on and we have funbefore games, so it's sort of
like everybody gets nervous, soyeah.
I think music is a great way tojust like have fun with it and
warming up, and everybody's likedancing and to our songs and
whatever.
So yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (15:30):
Keeps the spirits up.
It really does.
Yes, that's a good routine tohave though for each game.
SPEAKER_04 (15:34):
Just a little side note, I coached boys' soccer, or
high school boy soccer, andthere's a big difference between
the bus rides.
SPEAKER_00 (15:41):
Uh on the bus rides for boys.
SPEAKER_04 (15:44):
Boys, yeah, it's completely quiet.
Everyone has their headphonesin, you know, they're like
playing against their phones.
And I turn around on these busrides, and it's everyone doing
each other's hair and a devilblasting in the back.
SPEAKER_00 (15:56):
That's what gets you hyped up about Emerson.
Yeah, it's a wild time.
SPEAKER_03 (16:01):
We definitely like to sing before.
I was sort of just thinking likehome games, but yeah, definitely
the bus rides.
Oh my god.
SPEAKER_02 (16:08):
I think some bus drivers might hate us, but I
mean from when I was on uh teamto the girls' bus rides are
definitely amped up.
Oh yeah, yeah.
So if you had to choose onemotto or one mantra heading into
the season, what would it be?
SPEAKER_03 (16:21):
To go with believe, just because like got the signs,
you can just reuse them.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (16:28):
Uh it'd be don't get complacent.
We're playing our schedule ismuch more difficult this year.
We don't have any easy games andwe're matched up against you
know a bunch of class L schoolsand class double L schools.
Um so I I think that'll reallyreally benefit us when we get
into the postseason.
So don't get complacent.
SPEAKER_02 (16:43):
No, yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (16:43):
Go out there like you've got something to prove
still.
SPEAKER_02 (16:45):
Right.
SPEAKER_01 (16:45):
Uh mine's kind of I've always like believed in
this one is um you don't getwhat you wish for, you get what
you work for.
Oh, I like that.
That's good.
So I definitely like followthat.
It's just like really what itactually is.
SPEAKER_02 (16:59):
Yeah, that's true for soccer and for life too.
Alright, so now we're gonna headin some rapid questions.
These are surprise, they're fun,so just first thing that comes
to your mind.
SPEAKER_00 (17:08):
Okay.
SPEAKER_02 (17:08):
Okay, ready?
Yeah.
Caitlin, any superstitionsbefore game time?
SPEAKER_03 (17:12):
Oh, like I don't know.
Um not really.
I oh well, okay.
I think I usually like like forthe States game, I actually did
this.
I had two right feet socks.
That's like kind of random, butokay.
That just for states?
Was this on purpose or I justlike I started I did it, I did
(17:32):
it like one game and then I Ihad to do it again because I was
like two right feet, so nowmaybe my left feet left foot
won't be as bad.
SPEAKER_02 (17:39):
You couldn't you couldn't twist.
SPEAKER_04 (17:41):
They used to bless each other's shoes before games.
I forgot about that.
Oh, yes.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (17:46):
That was something I turned around and installed, and
it was like it's sweet.
We put them in like a circlelike around it, and we like
bless with like a sound.
Yes.
With what?
Like it was like it was like theTikTok sounds like TikTok
channel season.
It's weird.
I remember we did.
Well, it was like we like moveour arms with my bat, and we
(18:07):
like go side to side, I think itwas.
Yeah, I didn't really rememberit, but I'll remember it's like
we definitely and like weweren't gonna do it before
finals, but then we forgotbecause we forgot about it, and
we're like, wait, we have to dothis.
Yeah, so we don't like as we didlike before we were running out
to do warm-ups.
Oh, I wonder if that will bepart of this season, too.
We should do it.
SPEAKER_02 (18:26):
I think we should wait.
That's interesting.
We gotta bless our dates.
That's a good superstition, Iguess.
Haven't heard that one.
Alison, pre-game hype song.
I know we you said Dell before,but um I don't really know.
SPEAKER_01 (18:40):
Like, I don't think I really have one.
I just have like a playlist andI use it as background music.
I think it kind of just likedrowns out my like thoughts.
Helps get the nerves calm.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (18:53):
All right, coach, one word that your players would
use to describe you.
SPEAKER_04 (18:58):
Uh I gotta be careful here.
SPEAKER_03 (19:02):
I don't even know.
It's a tough one.
Sarcastic.
SPEAKER_04 (19:05):
Sarcastic?
Yes.
SPEAKER_03 (19:06):
Yeah, that's good.
Actually, I would pick that upfor Nick.
SPEAKER_04 (19:08):
That too, yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (19:10):
That's not bad.
SPEAKER_02 (19:10):
Yeah.
Kaylin, soccer goat.
Oh, um Trinity Roman.
Okay.
Well, that's just came back,right?
Wasn't she?
Yeah, okay.
Allison, favorite sport otherthan soccer.
Um, probably track, track.
Okay, favorite part of coaching.
SPEAKER_04 (19:28):
Um probably like the chemistry and the relationships
you build with your players.
SPEAKER_02 (19:33):
Kaelin, favorite sports movie.
Giving you the tough one, sorry.
Um thinker.
SPEAKER_04 (19:45):
Ted Lasso, come on.
SPEAKER_02 (19:46):
Yeah, Ted Lasso.
Oh yeah.
Are you guys all big fans?
I've seen the show this year.
I've never watched it.
I should probably watch therest, actually.
I haven't watched it.
I had to do a lot of Googlingbefore this to learn about the
signs and everything.
Allison, favorite pregame orpost-game meal?
SPEAKER_01 (20:01):
Um, usually a cheeseburger or chicken tenders
and fries.
Well, this is a good thing.
This is post-game.
I usually don't I usually eatlike an apple pregame.
Okay.
It's a lot of running.
SPEAKER_02 (20:11):
Yeah, you probably don't want a heavy meal.
SPEAKER_01 (20:13):
Yeah, and then I'll eat like Sour Patch Kids during
halftime.
Oh yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (20:16):
Coach, one word to describe the team.
SPEAKER_04 (20:22):
Entertaining.
SPEAKER_00 (20:23):
That's a good one.
SPEAKER_04 (20:26):
Yeah, a team is very entertaining, and you know, the
practices are very lively, soyou know.
They bring a lot of fun, yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (20:32):
Yeah, it keeps the season fun and entertaining
boring or the same.
No, absolutely not.
Caitlin, assist or goals.
There we go.
Good answer.
SPEAKER_01 (20:50):
Don't worry about others, just like focus on
yourself.
SPEAKER_02 (20:54):
Alright.
Um, besides winning thechampionship, what was your
favorite moment of last season?
SPEAKER_04 (21:08):
It's probably the semifinals against Cromwell.
That game before, that was areally good game for us, and
Cromwell was one of our toughestmatches, and we played really
well, and I feel like for somereason we matched up really good
well against Cromwell.
I think Cromwell beat Morgan,right, during the season?
Yeah.
Yeah, in some.
Whenever we played them, we didwe always played really well.
(21:28):
And that game was especiallyyeah, we played amazing.
Especially in the first half.
SPEAKER_02 (21:32):
Yeah, that'll get your spirits up heading to the
channel.
SPEAKER_04 (21:33):
Yeah, right.
We built momentum at the righttime.
Yeah.
One of the few cold nights aswell, I remember.
unknown (21:39):
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (21:39):
Well, I remember the bus ride there.
That's like what I remember mostabout that game.
SPEAKER_04 (21:43):
Yeah, our bus driver had a little oops on the way
there.
Oh we got a little bit of anaccident.
SPEAKER_03 (21:48):
Yeah, we had like 15 minutes to warm up, so that's
like what I'm saying.
We played so well when we had notime to go.
Wow.
SPEAKER_04 (21:54):
It was a tactic, you know.
We let them freeze their buttsoff on the field, and then we
came out nice and warm up thereoff the bus.
The bus driver must have knownlet me let me throw them off a
little bit.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (22:03):
All right, so for this last one, everyone could
chime in.
Okay.
Ronaldo or Messi?
It's easy.
SPEAKER_00 (22:08):
Messi?
SPEAKER_04 (22:08):
Yeah, it's Messi for sure.
Really?
Do you agree?
Barcelona fan, that's whythough.
Okay.
Yeah, so yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (22:13):
I feel like sometimes people could get into
a debate about that.
SPEAKER_04 (22:16):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (22:16):
No, not here.
SPEAKER_03 (22:17):
I feel like I respect both.
At the end of the day, Messi, Ithink.
SPEAKER_01 (22:20):
Yeah, I used to like Ronaldo, but like I've grown to
like Messi more.
That's a good unified team herewith the response.
SPEAKER_03 (22:26):
I actually didn't know what you guys were saying,
but all right.
SPEAKER_02 (22:29):
So lastly in the podcast, I always wrap up by
asking the guests, what do youthink the purpose of high school
sports is?
SPEAKER_01 (22:35):
I think it's like to build a community like outside
of like school.
It's to give like everyone achance if they want to,
especially like in our smallerschool, everyone definitely gets
the chance to play a high schoolsport and be on a team, even if
they don't play.
But I think even just being on ateam, you get to build all the
connections, you get pretty muchthe exact same experience,
(22:56):
except for the actually theplaying.
So I guess it's less stressful.
But I think it's like goodbecause you learn the stress,
you learn how to deal with it,100%.
Especially like in the realworld, like that's what you have
to deal with.
SPEAKER_02 (23:11):
You have to juggle out of things.
SPEAKER_03 (23:13):
Yeah, yeah.
You learn time managementskills, you know.
Really good interpersonalcommunication skills.
I think like you build the mostimportant relationships, like
not the most, but some of themost important relationships.
Like you have different gradelevels coming together and um
yeah, just discipline,motivation.
SPEAKER_01 (23:32):
I think it's like good because like I remember
during the school year, I couldgo up to like all any of the
upperclassmen, even theunderclassmen, if I needed
anything.
Like they were always there forme.
SPEAKER_02 (23:42):
So it's great communication skills, and then
those relationships you'll havefor years after high school as
well.
SPEAKER_03 (23:47):
Yeah.
We definitely bonded like somuch with our team, especially
last year.
SPEAKER_04 (23:51):
Well, I think um I think if the best thing is to
playing for something more thanyour team, like they're playing
for their entire town.
And it was really, really coolto see after we won, we got like
an escort from the policestation and the fire trucks, and
we drive down the main road ofDurham.
And I'm not even from Durham,and I was like, wow, this is
amazing.
Because everyone came out oftheir town, they're out of their
houses and they were allclapping and they all knew about
(24:13):
it, and it was really, reallycool experience to see it.
Yeah.
That's like from a movie.
SPEAKER_02 (24:16):
Yeah, to have that special commuter.
SPEAKER_03 (24:19):
I feel like that's why it's crazy.
It's still not even real.
We were just texting yesterday.
We're like, yeah, but if itdoesn't even feel real, like
busy dream.
SPEAKER_02 (24:25):
Those small towns show up the most sometimes.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (24:27):
They do.
SPEAKER_02 (24:29):
All right.
Well, thank you all so much forjoining me on the podcast.
You guys did great, and it wasgreat to hear about your last
season.
And I wish you the best in this2025 season.
SPEAKER_00 (24:37):
Thanks for having us.
Welcome to CIEC's Glory Days Podcast.
I'm your host, Jada Mirabel, andtoday I'm joined by Coginchog
Girls Soccer, the 2024 Class SCIEC State Champions.
I'm joined by Kaelin Connell,Alison Booth, and head coach
Liam Islib.
Thanks for joining me today.
SPEAKER_04 (00:14):
Thanks for having us.
SPEAKER_00 (00:15):
Thank you.
SPEAKER_02 (00:16):
Excited to hear your stories about last season.
So, coach, this past season wasyour first season as the head
coach for Coginchog GirlsSoccer.
And tell me what changes did youimplement to help mold this team
into the championship-winningteam that they are?
Because last year was the firststate championship appearance.
SPEAKER_04 (00:30):
Right.
I think the big thing I wantedto bring was consistency.
They've had three differentcoaches in the last three years.
And so I kind of really wantedto build a routine with them.
It's tough, you know, for themto have a different different
coach each year who has adifferent playing style and
maybe a different formation andideas.
So I wanted to create, you know,consistent workouts, consistent
practices, consistent games, youknow, and you know, I think it
(00:52):
really like benefited them tohave that routine, you know, and
have that consist consistency.
SPEAKER_02 (00:57):
So absolutely.
Athletes need structure to helphelp grow and be successful.
So what other core values didyou try to implement within the
program besides thatconsistency?
SPEAKER_04 (01:06):
It's gonna sound kind of lame, but I think, you
know, kind of building thatwinning mentality.
And I think a lot of it has todo with that last question of
being consistent.
And I mean, I think it reallybenefits them, you know, to have
a coach, I think, for the firsttime in their career for
back-to-back years.
You know, they've had theirentire year, they've had a
different coach, so you know,now they know what to expect.
You know, now they know how preseason's preseason's gonna go,
how workouts are gonna go, howpractices are gonna go, you
(01:28):
know, in games and everythinglike that.
And I think it's gonna be reallybeneficial.
SPEAKER_02 (01:31):
Definitely.
It helps everyone get a feel forit and not have to go blind to
the season, you know what toexpect.
SPEAKER_04 (01:36):
Right.
SPEAKER_02 (01:36):
So, how do you approach building team
chemistry, especially early onin the season?
SPEAKER_04 (01:40):
Um, I think a lot of it's during the summertime, and
I think that the two extrapractices we have now um is
really good for especially thefreshmen coming in.
Um they get to see how practicesare run, you know, and they get
to see we have summer leaguegames, we have workouts, and
they get to meet all the teams.
And I think it's reallybeneficial, especially for Cog
and Child, because we're a verysmall program.
We only had 22 girls in the teamlast year, so it was only one
(02:02):
team.
And you see these bigger schoolsthat have a freshman team, a JV
team, and a varsity team, andthey all have different coaches
and they all all have differentideas.
And every all of our team comestogether.
We see each other every singleday for maybe half the year or
five months of the year.
So we get to know each other andwe build that chemistry that
way.
And it's also like beneficial inthe way where maybe a a player
(02:22):
who got put on the freshman teamor the JV team, I mean, they
don't really get theopportunities to move up.
And I see these players everysingle day, and I give chances
to younger players.
And you know, how last yearabout or over 50% of the team
was underclassmen.
And we had yeah, two startingfreshmen backs, and our
goalkeepers are freshmen aswell, and they started basically
almost every game that they wereavailable.
(02:43):
So it was it's really beneficialand it gives the opportunity to
the underclassmen.
SPEAKER_02 (02:46):
Definitely to have the opportunity, it's a great
chance for students.
SPEAKER_04 (02:49):
Right.
SPEAKER_02 (02:49):
So Cogenthog had quite the run through the
regular season.
You guys defeated Cromwell inthe state semifinals, who were
the reigning champs, and thenthat was before facing Morgan
for the final, but before thatyou had faced them two times
prior, once in the regularseason where you had lost by
five goals, then once inshorelines where you had lost by
four, but what changed for thatthird and final matchup?
Because obviously the outcomewas very different.
SPEAKER_01 (03:12):
Um I'm pretty sure Morgan just went in like really
strongly, thinking that they'rejust gonna beat us as soon as
the game started.
I feel like they didn't even goout that strong, but I think we
went out knowing like we'regonna get us.
Yeah, this is just another game.
Like we've never seen this teambefore, they never seen us.
We just need to go out, like,play like this is our last game
(03:33):
of the season because it is, andjust give it our all.
SPEAKER_02 (03:35):
Yeah, just be in the moment.
Clean slate.
Yeah, it's who it's who shows upthe day the most.
It doesn't matter if you've lostto them pr in the past.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (03:42):
We did change a lot tactically as well.
I think we played a little bitdifferent style as well.
Um, we watched a lot of film,yeah, and we talked kind of
talked about what our strengthswere and then how we are how we
struggled in those first twogames against them.
And a lot of it wasself-inflicted.
We made a lot of mistakes in theback and building up, and they
and Morgan's a very good team,and they capitalized them.
Um so we kind of decided we weregonna play a little more direct.
(04:03):
So you know, we kind of playedeverything long and we use our
strength up top, which was ourspeed, you know, to kind of get
in behind the defense and playin their end and make them make
the mistakes.
Um so that was kind of like ourgame plan, and then we kind of
changed up a little bit.
SPEAKER_02 (04:15):
So Yeah, but playing them those two times probably
really helped you see theirstrengths and their weaknesses.
SPEAKER_01 (04:19):
For the final game, I remember we changed our back
line and then our like attackline, like our top three, we
like learned how to play witheach other like even better.
And even during the Shorelinesgame, I feel like we figured out
how to get by them.
We just couldn't figure out howto finish.
But I think that almost workedout better for us in the end
because they didn't really beable to stop us.
SPEAKER_04 (04:43):
I think pressure was a big factor as well, and I
think they felt it a lot morethan we did.
I think them beating us by thatmuch those first two games,
everyone was expecting them tokill us again.
And so I think we us being theunderdogs, we really didn't feel
as much pressure as them.
I mean, we still were nervous, Icould tell.
And I was nervous just being onthe sideline, but I think it'll
affect them a lot more thanespecially in overtime and pel
(05:05):
in the kicks.
You could definitely see it.
SPEAKER_02 (05:06):
Yeah, so yeah, it it it shifts when it gets down to
that to the wire like that.
Yeah.
So they had gotten on the boardfirst, and then you guys had
scored and gotten back in thehalfway through the second.
So Alison, you scored theawesome tying goal.
So tell us about that moment.
What did you see from thatperspective?
SPEAKER_01 (05:21):
Um so this is like what I remember.
I just like the adrenaline, justlike don't really remember it
like exactly, but I do rememberso Sophie Farr had the ball in
the middle, and I was playingright wing, so I started making
a run um on like the outside oftheir outside back, and I saw
her look up, so I just startedsprinting, making sure I stayed
(05:42):
on the side.
She saw me, and she just like weplayed like really good
together, so she just knewexactly where I was gonna be.
So and I knew pretty much whereshe'd send it, and that's where
I found it.
I got the ball right past theirgoalie.
All I remember is being likereally surprised, and I ran to
Kaylin actually.
I was like the first person Isaw, and I just ran too.
(06:05):
I think it was just likeincredible that actually
happened.
SPEAKER_02 (06:09):
Definitely.
Yeah, I remember as soon as youscored it, the entire crowd just
jumped up.
They all had the Ted Lasso signsup.
They were all so excited.
Was that a theme throughout theentire season?
Or was it?
Was it?
SPEAKER_03 (06:20):
Yeah, she was she was um really passionate about
like just getting everybody tobe high spirits and cheering for
us.
So she made like I don't evenknow how many she made, but it
was like yellow, yeah, likethese yellow signs.
I didn't even know she made themtoo, but she had stayed up like
making them all night and Idon't know.
(06:40):
So that's awesome.
SPEAKER_04 (06:41):
Yeah, you should have seen the just for us
getting onto the bus to go tothe game, the amount of people
there.
They had like a party just forus getting on the bus.
Yeah, yeah.
Well, that's awesome.
SPEAKER_03 (06:49):
We had a surprise send-off party.
SPEAKER_04 (06:50):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (06:51):
Oh, that's so special.
SPEAKER_04 (06:52):
Yeah, the town was really into it, and probably
half the town was there.
SPEAKER_01 (06:54):
So yeah, we had the entire like boys' team like made
a sign for each of us and stufflike that.
Then like the bus was decorated.
SPEAKER_02 (07:01):
Oh, that's awesome.
Yeah, that community reallymakes a big difference though.
We were going into those bigmoments.
SPEAKER_03 (07:06):
But boosted us up, I think, a lot.
SPEAKER_02 (07:07):
Yeah, yeah, definitely.
You had definitely one of thebiggest crowds.
Remember the kids, like therewas they had the all spelled out
on a letter on your shirt, thethe mascot.
Yeah.
That was special.
So after that tie in goal, didthe strategy shift before we
headed into double overtime?
SPEAKER_04 (07:22):
So not really.
Um we did not want to go topelic kicks.
Um I mean, some coaches wouldkind of sit in and just hope,
you know, we go to a tie, maybewe can beat them at penalty
kicks.
But we had been practicingpenalty kicks for the entire
postseason, you know, they'relaughing, they're laughing.
And I think it progressively gotworse and worse every day we did
it.
Really?
And it was, yeah, it was notgood.
And I remember turning to myassistant Nick and being like,
(07:44):
after the second overtime, beinglike, I would gladly take coach
uh co-champions right nowbecause I did not want to go to
penalty kicks.
Um and funny story is we getinto penalty kicks, and uh I had
set like a lineup, our first 10players, and all of a sudden we
get into the huddle and and Iwon't name names, but there are
a couple players who are like, Idon't want to take one anymore.
I don't want to take one.
(08:04):
So I had to scramble and findnew players to get in the
lineup, and it took us, I don'tknow, there was a delay of me
trying to write everyone's namedown and get them in order, and
it was just a little bit ofchaos.
Um, but they did well.
And we had uh we had a freshmanand a sophomore, a freshman who
didn't play at all the entiregame step up and being compelled
to kick.
And a sophomore as well.
So yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (08:23):
You have to shift in those moments quickly sometimes,
but it worked out for the best.
Absolutely.
Did you give like a speechbefore the PKs to get everyone
calm or no?
SPEAKER_04 (08:32):
Like I said, it was chaos.
And I was like just yeah, tryingto get it going, and you know,
we practiced so much, and I justsaid I did get to talk to them
when they they all walked toHatfield, and I had to walk up
and they write their names downso the announcer could do the
order.
And I just basically said, youknow, do what we've been working
on, practice.
You know, don't worry about thefans, don't worry about the
goalkeeper, block outeverything, and just do what
you've been working on for inthe practice for the last couple
weeks.
SPEAKER_03 (08:50):
So that's what it comes down to.
Right.
Every time I went in the net, wewere like screaming, just
jumping up and down.
SPEAKER_01 (08:55):
We were just like so happy, like for all of our like
all of our like ones thatactually went in, because like
yeah, after practices, that wasjust like a win for us.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (09:05):
And when Anna saved them, oh my god.
SPEAKER_01 (09:07):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (09:07):
Yeah, she had in some incredible saves.
SPEAKER_04 (09:09):
Awesome goal later.
Yeah, she played really well.
SPEAKER_02 (09:10):
Only a freshman, too.
Yeah.
Yeah.
That that what an advantage thatyou had such a young team last
year, and then you're going tothe the new season with almost
the same team.
So I'm sure you learned manydifferent lessons from just that
championship game.
But what were your key takeawaysfrom last season that you
learned?
SPEAKER_01 (09:26):
Um pretty much that you just have to keep working.
Because like my freshman year,we definitely did not have the
best like record.
I think we won three games allyear.
We did not make states, we didnot make shorelines.
Um, a team that we like beatpretty badly made states over
(09:46):
us.
So it pretty much was like,okay, my sophomore year, like
just gotta keep working.
Um like even if we don't do thatgood.
Like after Shorelines, I waslike, states, like I feel like
we got this.
Like I remember like talking tolike one of the girls on the
team, and I was like, I think wegot this one.
Um but we definitely put in somuch work.
(10:10):
Um we did like lots of likerunning, but it wasn't even just
like running, it was like withthe ball.
We got a lot of touches, we didlots of shooting.
Like Liam pulled like differentpositions aside to make sure
that we got what we needed, butit wasn't just like um like
that's kind of when he changedup the consistency, but I think
(10:30):
that's what we needed becauselike we actually worked on what
we like needed.
SPEAKER_02 (10:35):
That would make a big difference focusing on the
different skills for eachdifferent group.
SPEAKER_03 (10:39):
Yeah, I think the biggest thing for me, like
especially because I had threedifferent coaches like every
single year.
So this year is the only year,like Liam returning and having
the same coaches was really goodfor me to see.
And um I think that the biggestthing is the team camaraderie,
like we just grew so much, thegirls in general.
(11:02):
I think like some of my bestfriends, like I it's only me and
one other teammate um in mygrade because I'm a really small
grade.
Um, so like having the team andhaving friendships like all
different ages, and we all justlike bond really well,
especially in like that highintensity, high emotion game
setting.
Um, it just forms such goodrelationships with the other
(11:25):
teammates, and I think that'sreally what um strengthens our
team at the end of the day.
SPEAKER_02 (11:30):
Definitely.
SPEAKER_04 (11:31):
They're not gonna like this, but I think what I
learned most is I'm gonna beable to push them more, or I
should be pushing them more.
I didn't really know what toexpect, really, to come again.
That's my first year, and Ididn't know how you know how
well we would do.
Um, but I know I can push someharder now, and so just get
better each year.
SPEAKER_02 (11:46):
Yes, exactly.
SPEAKER_04 (11:47):
We need to raise our levels because next year is
gonna be even harder and the barset high now.
SPEAKER_02 (11:51):
How has being an athlete shaped who you are off
the field?
SPEAKER_01 (11:55):
Um I think it's like made me almost like a better
person.
Like I've gotten better withlike working with people.
Um it's taught me how to be likea harder worker, especially like
in school, um even like out ofschool, just like making sure
I'm not like almost like lazy,like I'm always doing something.
(12:16):
Like, even if it's just likeworking for soccer, like having
a job, working stuff for school,just like working around the
house.
Like, I think it's made me abetter person like that.
I know how to communicate betterwith people.
Um, I've gotten better aboutlike not tearing people down,
like because everyone makesmistakes, so yeah, like I
(12:38):
wouldn't want people tearing medown, so I make sure, especially
the incoming freshmen, I makesure that they are like
comfortable on the fields thatthey know that their mistakes
are okay as long as they'reactually trying.
Yeah, I think that's whatmatters at the end of the day,
as long as you're trying.
Um but yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (12:55):
Yeah, that's a great perspective to have.
I think for me, like I totallyagree with everything Allie
said, but also like justbuilding an athlete, like being
able to build discipline, likephysically, also like really
relates and and doing itmentally for school and other
whatever whatever other pursuitslike that you like doing.
Um so like being an athlete,like getting up and going to
(13:17):
practice and putting in hardwork can also just make you want
to chase like that feeling ofsuccess a little more.
And so, like, especially myjunior year, like we won states,
and that was like just fuelingme to be like, all right, now I
can now I'm gonna go to schooland I'm gonna work as hard as I
can here, and it really justlike domino effect, I I think
leads into wanting to chase morefor yourself, and so I think
(13:40):
that all starts in being anathlete.
SPEAKER_02 (13:42):
Yeah, that's awesome.
There's so many life skills youcould take from sports.
And coach, you were a CICathlete as well?
SPEAKER_04 (13:47):
Yes.
I played at Adam Killingworth.
Yes.
SPEAKER_02 (13:51):
Remember any takeaways, any life lessons that
you learn now looking back?
SPEAKER_04 (13:54):
Uh I don't think I'm an athlete any longer, so uh I
don't know if I can comment onthat.
But it's probably like theysaid, like the teamwork stuff
and the camaraderie and having aroutine and having a schedule,
and that's kind of what a bigthing I wanted to bring in,
obviously, as well.
SPEAKER_02 (14:05):
So that's super important to showcase.
So how do each of you preparementally and physically for a
game?
How do you get into that winningmindset?
SPEAKER_01 (14:14):
Um so I usually just like listen to music before
games.
Um before games I try and getlike a couple of shots on net,
like I'll put a ball on the topof the six-yard box and I'll
just take like shots.
I'm not even trying to place it,I'm just trying to like figure
out my like foot on the ball.
(14:35):
Um then I do some like dribblingon the side just to like get my
touches down kind of.
And then I think like ourwarm-up is pretty good because
it gets like crosses, shooting,um, ball skills, just like all
warmed up, stretching.
I think that's like pretty muchit.
Crossing.
SPEAKER_03 (14:54):
I I said crossing the um throw the routine out of
the um I think uh we do likesmall side possession like
before games, which is whichreally helps us get ready to
like um face those 1v1s in likereal game time.
And also like most importantly,I think like music is such a big
thing.
Like we'll put on our playlist,our team playlist.
(15:15):
We'll put it on and we have funbefore games, so it's sort of
like everybody gets nervous, soyeah.
I think music is a great way tojust like have fun with it and
warming up, and everybody's likedancing and to our songs and
whatever.
So yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (15:30):
Keeps the spirits up.
It really does.
Yes, that's a good routine tohave though for each game.
SPEAKER_04 (15:34):
Just a little side note, I coached boys' soccer, or
high school boy soccer, andthere's a big difference between
the bus rides.
SPEAKER_00 (15:41):
Uh on the bus rides for boys.
SPEAKER_04 (15:44):
Boys, yeah, it's completely quiet.
Everyone has their headphonesin, you know, they're like
playing against their phones.
And I turn around on these busrides, and it's everyone doing
each other's hair and a devilblasting in the back.
SPEAKER_00 (15:56):
That's what gets you hyped up about Emerson.
Yeah, it's a wild time.
SPEAKER_03 (16:01):
We definitely like to sing before.
I was sort of just thinking likehome games, but yeah, definitely
the bus rides.
Oh my god.
SPEAKER_02 (16:08):
I think some bus drivers might hate us, but I
mean from when I was on uh teamto the girls' bus rides are
definitely amped up.
Oh yeah, yeah.
So if you had to choose onemotto or one mantra heading into
the season, what would it be?
SPEAKER_03 (16:21):
To go with believe, just because like got the signs,
you can just reuse them.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (16:28):
Uh it'd be don't get complacent.
We're playing our schedule ismuch more difficult this year.
We don't have any easy games andwe're matched up against you
know a bunch of class L schoolsand class double L schools.
Um so I I think that'll reallyreally benefit us when we get
into the postseason.
So don't get complacent.
SPEAKER_02 (16:43):
No, yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (16:43):
Go out there like you've got something to prove
still.
SPEAKER_02 (16:45):
Right.
SPEAKER_01 (16:45):
Uh mine's kind of I've always like believed in
this one is um you don't getwhat you wish for, you get what
you work for.
Oh, I like that.
That's good.
So I definitely like followthat.
It's just like really what itactually is.
SPEAKER_02 (16:59):
Yeah, that's true for soccer and for life too.
Alright, so now we're gonna headin some rapid questions.
These are surprise, they're fun,so just first thing that comes
to your mind.
SPEAKER_00 (17:08):
Okay.
SPEAKER_02 (17:08):
Okay, ready?
Yeah.
Caitlin, any superstitionsbefore game time?
SPEAKER_03 (17:12):
Oh, like I don't know.
Um not really.
I oh well, okay.
I think I usually like like forthe States game, I actually did
this.
I had two right feet socks.
That's like kind of random, butokay.
That just for states?
Was this on purpose or I justlike I started I did it, I did
(17:32):
it like one game and then I Ihad to do it again because I was
like two right feet, so nowmaybe my left feet left foot
won't be as bad.
SPEAKER_02 (17:39):
You couldn't you couldn't twist.
SPEAKER_04 (17:41):
They used to bless each other's shoes before games.
I forgot about that.
Oh, yes.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (17:46):
That was something I turned around and installed, and
it was like it's sweet.
We put them in like a circlelike around it, and we like
bless with like a sound.
Yes.
With what?
Like it was like it was like theTikTok sounds like TikTok
channel season.
It's weird.
I remember we did.
Well, it was like we like moveour arms with my bat, and we
(18:07):
like go side to side, I think itwas.
Yeah, I didn't really rememberit, but I'll remember it's like
we definitely and like weweren't gonna do it before
finals, but then we forgotbecause we forgot about it, and
we're like, wait, we have to dothis.
Yeah, so we don't like as we didlike before we were running out
to do warm-ups.
Oh, I wonder if that will bepart of this season, too.
We should do it.
SPEAKER_02 (18:26):
I think we should wait.
That's interesting.
We gotta bless our dates.
That's a good superstition, Iguess.
Haven't heard that one.
Alison, pre-game hype song.
I know we you said Dell before,but um I don't really know.
SPEAKER_01 (18:40):
Like, I don't think I really have one.
I just have like a playlist andI use it as background music.
I think it kind of just likedrowns out my like thoughts.
Helps get the nerves calm.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (18:53):
All right, coach, one word that your players would
use to describe you.
SPEAKER_04 (18:58):
Uh I gotta be careful here.
SPEAKER_03 (19:02):
I don't even know.
It's a tough one.
Sarcastic.
SPEAKER_04 (19:05):
Sarcastic?
Yes.
SPEAKER_03 (19:06):
Yeah, that's good.
Actually, I would pick that upfor Nick.
SPEAKER_04 (19:08):
That too, yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (19:10):
That's not bad.
SPEAKER_02 (19:10):
Yeah.
Kaylin, soccer goat.
Oh, um Trinity Roman.
Okay.
Well, that's just came back,right?
Wasn't she?
Yeah, okay.
Allison, favorite sport otherthan soccer.
Um, probably track, track.
Okay, favorite part of coaching.
SPEAKER_04 (19:28):
Um probably like the chemistry and the relationships
you build with your players.
SPEAKER_02 (19:33):
Kaelin, favorite sports movie.
Giving you the tough one, sorry.
Um thinker.
SPEAKER_04 (19:45):
Ted Lasso, come on.
SPEAKER_02 (19:46):
Yeah, Ted Lasso.
Oh yeah.
Are you guys all big fans?
I've seen the show this year.
I've never watched it.
I should probably watch therest, actually.
I haven't watched it.
I had to do a lot of Googlingbefore this to learn about the
signs and everything.
Allison, favorite pregame orpost-game meal?
SPEAKER_01 (20:01):
Um, usually a cheeseburger or chicken tenders
and fries.
Well, this is a good thing.
This is post-game.
I usually don't I usually eatlike an apple pregame.
Okay.
It's a lot of running.
SPEAKER_02 (20:11):
Yeah, you probably don't want a heavy meal.
SPEAKER_01 (20:13):
Yeah, and then I'll eat like Sour Patch Kids during
halftime.
Oh yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (20:16):
Coach, one word to describe the team.
SPEAKER_04 (20:22):
Entertaining.
SPEAKER_00 (20:23):
That's a good one.
SPEAKER_04 (20:26):
Yeah, a team is very entertaining, and you know, the
practices are very lively, soyou know.
They bring a lot of fun, yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (20:32):
Yeah, it keeps the season fun and entertaining
boring or the same.
No, absolutely not.
Caitlin, assist or goals.
There we go.
Good answer.
SPEAKER_01 (20:50):
Don't worry about others, just like focus on
yourself.
SPEAKER_02 (20:54):
Alright.
Um, besides winning thechampionship, what was your
favorite moment of last season?
SPEAKER_04 (21:08):
It's probably the semifinals against Cromwell.
That game before, that was areally good game for us, and
Cromwell was one of our toughestmatches, and we played really
well, and I feel like for somereason we matched up really good
well against Cromwell.
I think Cromwell beat Morgan,right, during the season?
Yeah.
Yeah, in some.
Whenever we played them, we didwe always played really well.
(21:28):
And that game was especiallyyeah, we played amazing.
Especially in the first half.
SPEAKER_02 (21:32):
Yeah, that'll get your spirits up heading to the
channel.
SPEAKER_04 (21:33):
Yeah, right.
We built momentum at the righttime.
Yeah.
One of the few cold nights aswell, I remember.
unknown (21:39):
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (21:39):
Well, I remember the bus ride there.
That's like what I remember mostabout that game.
SPEAKER_04 (21:43):
Yeah, our bus driver had a little oops on the way
there.
Oh we got a little bit of anaccident.
SPEAKER_03 (21:48):
Yeah, we had like 15 minutes to warm up, so that's
like what I'm saying.
We played so well when we had notime to go.
Wow.
SPEAKER_04 (21:54):
It was a tactic, you know.
We let them freeze their buttsoff on the field, and then we
came out nice and warm up thereoff the bus.
The bus driver must have knownlet me let me throw them off a
little bit.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (22:03):
All right, so for this last one, everyone could
chime in.
Okay.
Ronaldo or Messi?
It's easy.
SPEAKER_00 (22:08):
Messi?
SPEAKER_04 (22:08):
Yeah, it's Messi for sure.
Really?
Do you agree?
Barcelona fan, that's whythough.
Okay.
Yeah, so yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (22:13):
I feel like sometimes people could get into
a debate about that.
SPEAKER_04 (22:16):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (22:16):
No, not here.
SPEAKER_03 (22:17):
I feel like I respect both.
At the end of the day, Messi, Ithink.
SPEAKER_01 (22:20):
Yeah, I used to like Ronaldo, but like I've grown to
like Messi more.
That's a good unified team herewith the response.
SPEAKER_03 (22:26):
I actually didn't know what you guys were saying,
but all right.
SPEAKER_02 (22:29):
So lastly in the podcast, I always wrap up by
asking the guests, what do youthink the purpose of high school
sports is?
SPEAKER_01 (22:35):
I think it's like to build a community like outside
of like school.
It's to give like everyone achance if they want to,
especially like in our smallerschool, everyone definitely gets
the chance to play a high schoolsport and be on a team, even if
they don't play.
But I think even just being on ateam, you get to build all the
connections, you get pretty muchthe exact same experience,
(22:56):
except for the actually theplaying.
So I guess it's less stressful.
But I think it's like goodbecause you learn the stress,
you learn how to deal with it,100%.
Especially like in the realworld, like that's what you have
to deal with.
SPEAKER_02 (23:11):
You have to juggle out of things.
SPEAKER_03 (23:13):
Yeah, yeah.
You learn time managementskills, you know.
Really good interpersonalcommunication skills.
I think like you build the mostimportant relationships, like
not the most, but some of themost important relationships.
Like you have different gradelevels coming together and um
yeah, just discipline,motivation.
SPEAKER_01 (23:32):
I think it's like good because like I remember
during the school year, I couldgo up to like all any of the
upperclassmen, even theunderclassmen, if I needed
anything.
Like they were always there forme.
SPEAKER_02 (23:42):
So it's great communication skills, and then
those relationships you'll havefor years after high school as
well.
SPEAKER_03 (23:47):
Yeah.
We definitely bonded like somuch with our team, especially
last year.
SPEAKER_04 (23:51):
Well, I think um I think if the best thing is to
playing for something more thanyour team, like they're playing
for their entire town.
And it was really, really coolto see after we won, we got like
an escort from the policestation and the fire trucks, and
we drive down the main road ofDurham.
And I'm not even from Durham,and I was like, wow, this is
amazing.
Because everyone came out oftheir town, they're out of their
houses and they were allclapping and they all knew about
(24:13):
it, and it was really, reallycool experience to see it.
Yeah.
That's like from a movie.
SPEAKER_02 (24:16):
Yeah, to have that special commuter.
SPEAKER_03 (24:19):
I feel like that's why it's crazy.
It's still not even real.
We were just texting yesterday.
We're like, yeah, but if itdoesn't even feel real, like
busy dream.
SPEAKER_02 (24:25):
Those small towns show up the most sometimes.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (24:27):
They do.
SPEAKER_02 (24:29):
All right.
Well, thank you all so much forjoining me on the podcast.
You guys did great, and it wasgreat to hear about your last
season.
And I wish you the best in this2025 season.
SPEAKER_00 (24:37):
Thanks for having us.
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