Physicality, speed of the game and mental road blocks — these factors, Idaho’s more experienced freshmen soccer players said, have presented the biggest challenges to competing at the college level.
Most freshmen on the team didn’t expect to make an immediate impact, but coach Pete Showler is an adamant believer in competition and opportunity, even for his freshman class.
“This (freshman) group has come in and worked hard,” Showler said. “Some of them have got a good chance, some have more minutes than they were expecting but they have earned it.”
Four freshmen have regularly garnered playing time for the Vandals since the season kicked off in late August, with two others seeing time sparingly. The challenges for freshman to break through into the line-up are seemingly universal.
“Most of it is speed of play,” Showler said. “Some have had problems adjusting to the physical aspect, all of them have (eventually) adjusted to the speed of play.”
Freshman forward Katie Baran, who started in each Idaho’s last five matches and has a goal on the season, echoes those sentiments.
“Every single player goes in hard and everybody works so hard,” she said. “Being in for just ten minutes of the game is hard.”
A rigorous pre-conference schedule, as well as unexpected injuries, have led to some of the freshman minutes.
A sudden injury to Idaho’s starting goalkeeper against Seattle University thrust Marissa Fehrman into action.
“Going in during that half, there was no time to think, you just gotta do it,” she said.
For defenders Emily Ngan and Lilly Archer it was competition that gave them the opportunity to play early.
“I expected that this would be a learning year … watch the players playing my position to learn,” Ngan said.
Instead, Ngan was able to play in the Vandals’ first five matches including a start against Seattle University.
“Coming on to the field I give it my all, take it one game at a time,” she said.
Her minutes trailed off as the season progressed due to increased competition at her position, Showler said.
“Those girls weren’t happy about not starting so they worked harder,” he said.
Showler said he has played most of the freshman, but players like Nikkie Adams and Annie Millard only saw playing time sparingly.
“That’s not to say the other freshman aren’t (competing),” Showler said. “The other freshmen are chomping at the bit and biting at the heels and want to be out there. When the opportunity arises it will be given to them.”