Picture above: Mount Holyoke College’s Soccer team. Photo courtesy of Mount Holyoke College Athletics.
By Gigi Picard ’22
Sports Editor
The second module’s first team of the week is Mount Holyoke Soccer.
The team’s captains for the 2020-2021 season are Maria Delgado ’21, Emma Robson ’21 and Sarah Forster ’23.
Delgado stated that the team virtually connected biweekly during the summer and participated in team bonding activities, including Two Truths and a Lie, online Taboo and Scattergories. Additionally, the Lyons completed social media challenges. Robson said that the team meets over Zoom and “puts an emphasis on continuing to bond as a team and supporting one another virtually.”
Delgado said that she misses a pre-game team tradition in the new online space. The team would huddle in a circle and each teammate would share a goal for the upcoming game. Then the team would march onto the field after a team chant. “Our desire to win a game wasn’t something we learned together; it’s something we all brought and we showed it,” Delgado said. “I miss coming together to share in that competitive drive, and I hope that if we are able to return, the first-years get the opportunity to share in that as well.”
Robson echoed Delagado’s statement. “As a senior, I am definitely missing the traditions that come with your senior season,” Robson said. “I especially miss competing with my team, fun drills at practice, and team dinners. I think most of the team can also agree we just miss playing soccer and being with the team.”
On Oct. 6, 2020, Chair of Physical Education and Director of Athletics Lori Hendricks officially announced the hiring of Interim Head Soccer Coach Kathy Brawn.
“I am so impressed with the culture that Lori Hendricks, the other administrators and her staff have created within Athletics,” Brawn said. “I can already see the passion, commitment and loyalty the coaches have for their profession, MHC and, most importantly, their athletes. I am honored to be counted among them.”
Brawn continued, “I am thrilled to be at MHC. Even though we are all working remotely, the Yoke community and Lyon athletic family have welcomed me with open paws. This is a wonderful place, and I feel fortunate to be a part of it.”
The captains were a part of this hiring and transition process. “We are very excited to have Coach Brawn,” Robson said. “She has an impressive soccer background and has brought a lot of good new energy and leadership to the team. We are all really excited to work with her and for the future of the program.”
Brawn was previously the head coach for Colgate University soccer, ending her career at the university with 312 career wins, 11 conference titles and six NCAA Championship Tournament appearances. Additionally, Brawn coached five All-America selections, 31 All-Region honorees and 137 student-athletes that collected All-Conference recognition while at Colgate. Brawn has also been awarded with two United Soccer Coaches Northeast Region Coach of the Year awards and three conference Coach of the Year honors.
Brawn introduced herself to the soccer team toward the end of the first module. “I have asked the players to share their attributes as athletes, teammates and friends. Based on their responses and what I am learning about them as human beings, I know the future is bright for Lyons’ soccer,” Brawn said.
As far as what lies in store for the team, Brawn said, “The work ahead will be challenging and rewarding. Anytime you have a group of people willing to play for one another and not merely with one another, you can achieve incredible things. The quality work everyone is putting in today will go a long way toward achieving our goals tomorrow. We’ll start to see that the moment we step out on the field.”