WEBVTT 1 00:00:04.280 --> 00:00:10.720 The time for your Columbus State Cougar's preview as we 2 00:00:10.759 --> 00:00:14.919 are now in the n seed DOUBLEA Tournament Southeast Regional 3 00:00:15.000 --> 00:00:18.440 first and second rounds are going to be in Columbus 4 00:00:19.000 --> 00:00:21.000 as the Lady Cougar's nineteen oh one to one earned 5 00:00:21.039 --> 00:00:24.920 automatic qualification as the Peach Belt Conference tournament champs earned 6 00:00:24.960 --> 00:00:27.199 the right to host the regional this weekend after being 7 00:00:27.280 --> 00:00:30.480 ranked number one in the Southeast Region. They are gonna 8 00:00:30.480 --> 00:00:33.240 match up against eighth seed Francis Marian who earned an 9 00:00:33.240 --> 00:00:37.039 automatic bid after securing the Conference Carolinas tournament title last 10 00:00:37.119 --> 00:00:40.200 weekend see Issues one of four Peach Belt Conference teams 11 00:00:40.240 --> 00:00:42.759 in the fifty six team field, and they are going 12 00:00:42.799 --> 00:00:45.359 to continue to look for their deep runs and chase 13 00:00:45.399 --> 00:00:49.359 after championships in Division two. Dominant run in twenty twenty 14 00:00:49.399 --> 00:00:52.399 four on their way in the tournament at nineteen oh 15 00:00:52.439 --> 00:00:55.840 one to one, twenty twenty four Peach Belt regular season 16 00:00:55.960 --> 00:00:59.200 twenty twenty four tournament champs, going twelve to zero against 17 00:00:59.200 --> 00:01:02.880 conference opponents this season. In the past weekend, they got 18 00:01:02.880 --> 00:01:04.840 their tenth tournament title with a one nil went over 19 00:01:04.959 --> 00:01:08.640 flagler as Francis Marion, once again riding high in the 20 00:01:08.640 --> 00:01:11.079 CC tourney finals their twelve two to four this year 21 00:01:11.159 --> 00:01:14.319 four match win streak heading into the weekend in at Columbus. 22 00:01:14.319 --> 00:01:16.920 Friday's meeting to start things off is just the seventh 23 00:01:17.280 --> 00:01:20.040 between Columbus State and Francis Marion. See issue has a 24 00:01:20.079 --> 00:01:23.319 five to one record over Francis Marion all time. The 25 00:01:23.400 --> 00:01:26.200 last time the two teams met was back in twenty 26 00:01:26.200 --> 00:01:29.079 twenty one. Lady Cougar's won at eight nil. But in Florence, 27 00:01:29.079 --> 00:01:32.879 South Carolina. First round is Friday, November twenty second second 28 00:01:32.959 --> 00:01:35.640 round is Sunday, November twenty fourth. We catch up with 29 00:01:35.680 --> 00:01:38.640 head coach Jay Atlick toward the end of our conversation 30 00:01:39.120 --> 00:01:42.400 and he has some thoughts on the layout for the 31 00:01:42.400 --> 00:01:45.680 tournament in and of itself. The two matches in Columbus 32 00:01:45.680 --> 00:01:48.760 played on Friday afternoon the Walden Soccer Complex noon Eastern 33 00:01:49.079 --> 00:01:51.799 at three o'clock. Fourth seed Cataba out of North Carolina, 34 00:01:52.079 --> 00:01:54.879 Fifth seed Flagler familiar foe out of the Peach Belt. 35 00:01:55.519 --> 00:01:57.359 They're going to be in the noon Eastern time match 36 00:01:57.400 --> 00:02:00.879 on Friday before the Lady Cougars and the Patriots kickoff 37 00:02:00.920 --> 00:02:03.439 at three o'clock. The two winners then meet in the 38 00:02:03.439 --> 00:02:06.680 second round Sunday at three o'clock Renault, Lenora. Ryan is 39 00:02:06.719 --> 00:02:10.280 the host for the second subregional and they welcome the 40 00:02:10.319 --> 00:02:14.599 third seed North Georgia, six seed Wingate, and seven seed Lander. 41 00:02:15.000 --> 00:02:18.319 Each finals from the subregional sites meet in the third 42 00:02:18.439 --> 00:02:22.759 round Sunday, December first, to determine region champs. After that, 43 00:02:23.400 --> 00:02:27.319 it's quarterfinal round Saturday, December seven, semifinals in the title 44 00:02:27.360 --> 00:02:30.000 match December thirteen and fifteen at the sports Plex at 45 00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:35.719 Matthews in suburban Charlotte, North Carolina. First and second rounds. 46 00:02:35.759 --> 00:02:38.159 Go to the event website and we'll remind you again 47 00:02:38.199 --> 00:02:42.360 when we're done. Go to CSU Cougars dot com slash sports. 48 00:02:42.759 --> 00:02:46.080 You can click on the header in the women's soccer 49 00:02:46.159 --> 00:02:48.639 section having to do with the women's soccer regionals and 50 00:02:48.680 --> 00:02:51.319 get all the information that you need when it comes 51 00:02:51.360 --> 00:02:55.319 to the tournament coming up here in short order, let's 52 00:02:55.360 --> 00:02:57.840 run through the guests and let you know what to 53 00:02:57.919 --> 00:03:01.400 expect here in the CSU Cougars Preif you first and foremost, 54 00:03:01.479 --> 00:03:04.439 we're gonna spend some time between the sticks and catch 55 00:03:04.520 --> 00:03:08.479 up with defensive Player of the Year Heidi Harris out 56 00:03:08.479 --> 00:03:13.120 of Swannee, Georgia. Here's our conversation between number one and yours. 57 00:03:13.120 --> 00:03:16.039 Truly time to drop into Division two as we get 58 00:03:16.080 --> 00:03:19.599 ready for the postseason and we go down to Columbus 59 00:03:19.639 --> 00:03:21.759 State and we catch up with folks hanging out with 60 00:03:21.759 --> 00:03:24.360 the CSU Cougars first and foremost batt and lead off 61 00:03:24.360 --> 00:03:27.680 for ust keeper Heidi Harris, the Pride of Swanee, Georgia. Heidi, 62 00:03:27.719 --> 00:03:31.840 thanks for dropping by. Yeah, of course when it comes 63 00:03:31.879 --> 00:03:35.840 to this season, what has this ride been like for 64 00:03:36.400 --> 00:03:39.000 all of you as a group come in? I know 65 00:03:39.120 --> 00:03:41.400 expectations are always high, but what's it been like for 66 00:03:41.439 --> 00:03:44.039 you guys to get to this point the next stage 67 00:03:44.039 --> 00:03:44.560 of the season. 68 00:03:45.719 --> 00:03:48.520 It's been really exciting to see what we're capable of 69 00:03:49.439 --> 00:03:51.919 going into what we lost. We graduated a lot of 70 00:03:52.280 --> 00:03:56.360 older experience people who are leaders on our team, and 71 00:03:56.560 --> 00:04:00.159 just like I know, our back line for examples, came 72 00:04:00.240 --> 00:04:03.639 in with not much experience. But to see how successful 73 00:04:03.680 --> 00:04:06.800 we've been and like up top, how successful we've been, 74 00:04:07.199 --> 00:04:10.840 I've just been exciting and has built so much confidence 75 00:04:10.840 --> 00:04:12.719 in our team, and I think that's. 76 00:04:12.560 --> 00:04:15.479 Part of our success. 77 00:04:15.639 --> 00:04:18.519 Has there been one thing that has surprised you about 78 00:04:18.560 --> 00:04:21.160 this season more than anything else? Or is it pretty 79 00:04:21.199 --> 00:04:24.639 much just business as usual down there for you guys, 80 00:04:25.720 --> 00:04:26.639 a little bit of both. 81 00:04:26.800 --> 00:04:29.879 It's exciting to see how many people we get on 82 00:04:29.959 --> 00:04:32.319 like the so soresheet each game. And I think the 83 00:04:32.360 --> 00:04:35.399 freshman that came in and also raised the level and 84 00:04:35.439 --> 00:04:37.759 brought new things to the team and that helped as well. 85 00:04:39.319 --> 00:04:43.639 How have you improved as a junior? How has your 86 00:04:43.720 --> 00:04:46.199 game evolved this season specifically? 87 00:04:47.399 --> 00:04:49.560 Well, I've never really played out of a three back 88 00:04:49.959 --> 00:04:53.120 like in club. It was always four back, and so 89 00:04:53.199 --> 00:04:56.480 that was a challenge having to learn how to coach 90 00:04:56.560 --> 00:05:01.360 that during the game, and it took a while. It 91 00:05:01.399 --> 00:05:04.519 wasn't easy at first, but it's now that I feel 92 00:05:04.519 --> 00:05:06.480 like I've gone the hang of it. I just feel 93 00:05:06.480 --> 00:05:09.240 like I understand the game a lot better and I've 94 00:05:09.279 --> 00:05:12.000 just like seen like a whole different like way of 95 00:05:12.040 --> 00:05:16.040 playing that I just didn't even like get experienced with before. 96 00:05:16.480 --> 00:05:19.720 What was the biggest adjustment for you? Just being vocal 97 00:05:19.759 --> 00:05:21.959 and understanding that there's going to be three in front 98 00:05:21.959 --> 00:05:24.079 of you instead of four. What's the dynamic there and 99 00:05:24.120 --> 00:05:25.240 what did you have to learn? 100 00:05:26.560 --> 00:05:30.079 It's just understanding like if the opponent plays with like 101 00:05:30.120 --> 00:05:32.519 a two front, then sometimes you have to think a 102 00:05:32.560 --> 00:05:36.360 little bit more defensive, and just with building out the back, 103 00:05:36.439 --> 00:05:39.439 like you're obviously there's one less person back there as 104 00:05:39.480 --> 00:05:42.480 an option, So just having to recognize that you might 105 00:05:42.480 --> 00:05:45.319 need to go longer and trying to find maybe your 106 00:05:45.319 --> 00:05:47.279 attacking mids, which is something that I feel like I 107 00:05:47.279 --> 00:05:51.600 could still improve on, but it's just understanding like when 108 00:05:51.600 --> 00:05:54.079 you need to pull people back and like who needs 109 00:05:54.120 --> 00:05:54.759 to come back? 110 00:05:56.120 --> 00:06:00.720 How would you describe your style between this sticks? How 111 00:06:00.839 --> 00:06:04.240 vocal are you are? You are? 112 00:06:04.240 --> 00:06:04.279 You? 113 00:06:04.360 --> 00:06:06.399 Are you literally at the top of your lungs? Are 114 00:06:06.399 --> 00:06:08.560 your pointing or you do it? How would you describe 115 00:06:08.560 --> 00:06:10.519 how you are stylistically back there? 116 00:06:11.680 --> 00:06:15.319 I like to think that I'm pretty like vocal and 117 00:06:15.360 --> 00:06:18.759 loud on the field, and I think that's surprises people 118 00:06:18.800 --> 00:06:21.360 because I wouldn't necessarily say I'm like that off the field. 119 00:06:22.279 --> 00:06:26.319 But I also think I like to play very aggressive 120 00:06:26.360 --> 00:06:29.079 when it terms of like coming off my line. That's 121 00:06:29.079 --> 00:06:32.279 always been something I've enjoyed. I enjoy like the bigger 122 00:06:32.519 --> 00:06:35.439 diving saves, like in the air, and so I think 123 00:06:35.480 --> 00:06:39.399 that's just always like influenced my decision making. I'm not 124 00:06:39.759 --> 00:06:43.560 like I feel like a lot of goalkeepers like corner 125 00:06:43.639 --> 00:06:46.319 kicks aren't the most fun thing to deal with. There's 126 00:06:46.319 --> 00:06:48.240 a lot of people in the box, a lot of bodies, 127 00:06:48.800 --> 00:06:52.240 but I've always found those to be exciting, So I 128 00:06:52.279 --> 00:06:55.120 feel like that's also helped with just dealing with. 129 00:06:55.120 --> 00:06:59.279 That when it comes on your wall, who are the 130 00:06:59.600 --> 00:07:02.720 we all have posters growing up. Who were the posters 131 00:07:02.800 --> 00:07:06.160 on your wall when it came to the sport, and 132 00:07:06.279 --> 00:07:08.759 who you kind of had as if you want to say, 133 00:07:08.800 --> 00:07:11.319 role models or folks that you might have modeled aspects 134 00:07:11.319 --> 00:07:14.360 of your game after Who was on your wall that 135 00:07:14.439 --> 00:07:16.000 you paid attention to a lot. 136 00:07:16.920 --> 00:07:20.000 I loved Hope Solo growing up. I love the way 137 00:07:20.079 --> 00:07:24.199 she played. She was so unapologetic. She sometimes walked the 138 00:07:24.199 --> 00:07:29.360 line between controversial and maybe made decisions that some people 139 00:07:29.439 --> 00:07:32.839 didn't agree with, but on the field, like she was 140 00:07:32.920 --> 00:07:36.199 just like insane to watch sometimes I'll still like go 141 00:07:36.279 --> 00:07:40.800 back and watch her highlights. I also loved Dea. I 142 00:07:40.920 --> 00:07:43.879 thought he was always interesting to watch because he wasn't 143 00:07:43.879 --> 00:07:48.360 always perfect, and that was something I noticed even as 144 00:07:48.360 --> 00:07:50.759 a pro, even being one of the best, He's still 145 00:07:50.800 --> 00:07:53.439 made mistakes and that was something that I liked to 146 00:07:53.480 --> 00:07:55.959 look at because it kind of helped me. Really is 147 00:07:56.040 --> 00:07:59.600 like Goalkeeppingk's never going to be perfect and you're never 148 00:07:59.639 --> 00:08:02.439 gonna make all the saves, and like, even like someone 149 00:08:02.439 --> 00:08:05.399 as great as him, he made mistakes and so just 150 00:08:06.199 --> 00:08:07.959 accepting that and learning to move on. 151 00:08:09.839 --> 00:08:12.800 What does it mean to you personally to have a 152 00:08:12.879 --> 00:08:14.920 clean sheet at the end of ninety minutes? 153 00:08:15.959 --> 00:08:20.519 It's huge, Coach Lewis says, if you can't they can't score, like, 154 00:08:21.279 --> 00:08:25.279 they can't win, and so that's always like it always 155 00:08:25.600 --> 00:08:27.920 makes you feel good, like you know, you didn't give 156 00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:31.959 up any goals, you organized your defense. Well, it's not 157 00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:35.000 always possible, and so sometimes you just got to realize 158 00:08:35.240 --> 00:08:38.320 like okay, just gotta move on. But when you do 159 00:08:38.399 --> 00:08:41.240 get a clean sheet, it's like reassuring like okay, you 160 00:08:41.279 --> 00:08:44.840 did you did things right, you had stuff organized, and 161 00:08:44.879 --> 00:08:47.240 it's just it's a good reassurance. 162 00:08:47.720 --> 00:08:51.399 Yeah, when you look at this weekend and you've had 163 00:08:51.399 --> 00:08:54.080 to study I'm sure bits and pieces of three teams, 164 00:08:54.120 --> 00:08:57.080 even though you've played one of them already fairly short 165 00:08:57.159 --> 00:09:00.639 notice last weekend, what study hall been like getting ready 166 00:09:00.639 --> 00:09:01.200 for this weekend? 167 00:09:02.759 --> 00:09:06.000 For me, it's kind of just like looking back at 168 00:09:06.039 --> 00:09:08.720 the games we played and when we played them and 169 00:09:09.519 --> 00:09:13.360 like realizing like what did I realize about the game, 170 00:09:13.399 --> 00:09:17.399 what did I recognize, what did I think I struggled with, 171 00:09:17.519 --> 00:09:20.000 or what caught me off guard? And then coming into 172 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:22.480 the game ready for that so that I'm not like 173 00:09:22.600 --> 00:09:26.960 as surprised by it or I'm expecting it, And it 174 00:09:27.000 --> 00:09:28.879 makes it a little bit easier when you can kind 175 00:09:28.919 --> 00:09:31.879 of come in with a little bit more confidence and 176 00:09:31.960 --> 00:09:33.720 like you I wouldn't say like, I don't want to 177 00:09:33.720 --> 00:09:35.440 say like you know what to expect, because you never 178 00:09:35.480 --> 00:09:38.320 really know what to expect, but just being like able 179 00:09:38.399 --> 00:09:42.519 to have some knowledge and going in and be like, Okay, 180 00:09:43.120 --> 00:09:46.799 I'm going to improve on what maybe I I didn't 181 00:09:46.840 --> 00:09:48.240 do as good when we first played. 182 00:09:48.600 --> 00:09:51.679 Interesting that Heidi had Hope Solo and David de Haeat 183 00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:54.559 as those that she models her game after and had 184 00:09:54.559 --> 00:09:57.279 the posters on the wall. Very very cool conversation there 185 00:09:57.600 --> 00:10:01.399 with the junior from Swannee. Next up all turning team 186 00:10:01.559 --> 00:10:04.440 Sage Smith and Sage Smith. For those of you that 187 00:10:04.559 --> 00:10:07.840 have your programs all laid out, Sage Smith once again 188 00:10:07.960 --> 00:10:10.320 had as a great story, whereas number twenty four in 189 00:10:10.320 --> 00:10:12.639 the midfield, the senior from South forsythe High School and 190 00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:16.360 coming Georgia great story of perseverance to get to this 191 00:10:16.440 --> 00:10:22.080 particular point. Here's our conversation twenty four and yours truly. So, Sage, 192 00:10:22.159 --> 00:10:24.679 let me ask you this, as the pride of South 193 00:10:24.720 --> 00:10:28.080 Foresyth High School and being down there in Columbus, what's 194 00:10:28.080 --> 00:10:30.639 it been like for you this season with that with 195 00:10:30.720 --> 00:10:33.960 that zero in the middle column and the one in 196 00:10:34.000 --> 00:10:36.320 the last column where nineteen of twenty came out the 197 00:10:36.320 --> 00:10:37.679 way you wanted. 198 00:10:37.399 --> 00:10:41.240 It to, It's been great. It's been a great season 199 00:10:41.320 --> 00:10:41.720 so far. 200 00:10:42.559 --> 00:10:46.799 Obviously, getting that one tie was super hard. I consider 201 00:10:46.840 --> 00:10:49.799 that a loss in my mind because I just I'm 202 00:10:49.960 --> 00:10:53.360 very competitive as a person, so when it's not winning, 203 00:10:53.799 --> 00:10:57.600 it upsets me. But the season has been great and 204 00:10:57.639 --> 00:10:59.720 I'm so glad it's my senior year and I'm able 205 00:10:59.759 --> 00:11:00.720 to end with that. 206 00:11:01.840 --> 00:11:05.080 When it comes to your senior season, obviously, I know 207 00:11:05.080 --> 00:11:07.879 what the team expectation was from your perspective, but what 208 00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:10.679 about you and your game there at the back? What 209 00:11:10.720 --> 00:11:13.919 were your what was on your checklist to improve upon 210 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:14.559 this season? 211 00:11:16.480 --> 00:11:20.000 So coming into the season, I actually had hip surgery 212 00:11:20.120 --> 00:11:23.080 less than a year ago, So coming into the season 213 00:11:23.200 --> 00:11:25.960 was super difficult because I was trying to recover and 214 00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:29.159 get back for the team, and so something on my 215 00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:31.840 checklist was to get my body right and healthy for 216 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:32.919 the season. 217 00:11:33.320 --> 00:11:36.080 And I just really wanted to work. 218 00:11:35.919 --> 00:11:39.440 On connecting more passes and being better with one v 219 00:11:39.559 --> 00:11:44.919 one defending and getting the ball out of back distributing 220 00:11:44.960 --> 00:11:47.120 it well. But those were kind of my goals for 221 00:11:47.200 --> 00:11:47.679 this season. 222 00:11:48.120 --> 00:11:48.720 So how'd you do? 223 00:11:50.440 --> 00:11:52.679 I mean, it's been working so far. You know, I 224 00:11:52.679 --> 00:11:56.919 always think someone can improve on their game, but honestly, 225 00:11:56.960 --> 00:11:59.559 I've been pleased with my performance so far, but I 226 00:11:59.639 --> 00:12:03.240 always have room for improvement. 227 00:12:03.519 --> 00:12:08.080 Twenty matches, twenty starts. How difficult was it for you 228 00:12:08.159 --> 00:12:12.679 coming off of surgery, rehabbing and being active in every 229 00:12:12.759 --> 00:12:15.440 game this year? How difficult a process was that for you? 230 00:12:16.559 --> 00:12:21.879 It was extremely difficult. This past summer was really hard 231 00:12:21.960 --> 00:12:26.600 for me. You know, it was a lot of overcoming pain. 232 00:12:26.840 --> 00:12:30.159 But I was able to get myself right and mentally, 233 00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:32.399 I came in with a good mindset, which I think 234 00:12:32.519 --> 00:12:36.559 is a huge part of playing good. So that just 235 00:12:36.639 --> 00:12:39.720 kind of helped me gain my confidence back to where 236 00:12:40.279 --> 00:12:41.440 I could provide for the team. 237 00:12:42.799 --> 00:12:48.960 When you are being the traffic cop back there, what's 238 00:12:49.000 --> 00:12:51.679 it like to have that responsibility for you where you 239 00:12:51.720 --> 00:12:54.279 get to You're sitting there and making sure that everything 240 00:12:54.600 --> 00:12:56.879 defensively is the way that it's supposed to be, and 241 00:12:56.879 --> 00:12:59.840 that everyone's lined up the way that you want them 242 00:12:59.879 --> 00:13:02.000 to be. Being that quarterback back there, what's it like 243 00:13:02.080 --> 00:13:03.200 having that responsibility? 244 00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:09.080 It honestly becomes super natural to me. I think I've 245 00:13:09.120 --> 00:13:11.519 definitely improved on it over the years. I was really 246 00:13:11.600 --> 00:13:15.000 quiet my freshman and sophomore year, but honestly, it just. 247 00:13:16.440 --> 00:13:17.879 It became a point. 248 00:13:17.639 --> 00:13:19.639 To where it's like, I want to win and I 249 00:13:19.679 --> 00:13:22.399 want to help my teammates be as successful as they 250 00:13:22.440 --> 00:13:22.759 can be. 251 00:13:22.879 --> 00:13:24.039 So I'm going to talk to them. 252 00:13:24.039 --> 00:13:25.879 I'm going to make sure they know what's going on 253 00:13:26.440 --> 00:13:28.759 around them so we can win as a team. 254 00:13:29.679 --> 00:13:36.639 So, yeah, how difficult was it this season knowing everyone's 255 00:13:36.759 --> 00:13:39.559 gunning for you as much as they are. How would 256 00:13:39.559 --> 00:13:41.240 you break down how difficult this season was? 257 00:13:44.960 --> 00:13:45.279 It was? 258 00:13:45.399 --> 00:13:49.240 It was difficult, but it was you know, no, it 259 00:13:49.279 --> 00:13:53.320 was definitely a difficult season. I think we do a 260 00:13:53.360 --> 00:13:57.399 great job at just being the best versions of ourselves 261 00:13:57.440 --> 00:14:02.679 and respecting other teams, and we're just able to go 262 00:14:02.720 --> 00:14:05.240 out there play the way we play and we just 263 00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:08.600 we beat teams by just you know, respecting them and 264 00:14:08.639 --> 00:14:11.840 going out and trying our artists. But it was definitely 265 00:14:11.840 --> 00:14:15.279 a difficult season, but very rewarding. 266 00:14:15.679 --> 00:14:19.000 For someone who's never seen you play as a group 267 00:14:19.039 --> 00:14:21.360 this season. Someone's walking in the door for the first 268 00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:24.679 time this weekend down there at Columbus State. When things 269 00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:27.360 are going as well as you want them to go 270 00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:31.559 offensively and defensively. How would you describe what CSU soccer is. 271 00:14:35.480 --> 00:14:38.440 It's definitely a high press soccer. I think we're all 272 00:14:38.559 --> 00:14:43.639 very disciplined, very determined, high energy. Every single one of 273 00:14:43.720 --> 00:14:47.360 us works extremely hard on the field and we work 274 00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:49.519 really well together. We have a lot of chemistry on 275 00:14:49.559 --> 00:14:51.840 this team. We've all played with each other for a 276 00:14:51.879 --> 00:14:55.000 while and we just really work very. 277 00:14:54.840 --> 00:14:55.759 Well off each other. 278 00:14:55.960 --> 00:15:00.240 So batting third, it is Sarah Hungerford. Sarah Hungerford. Obviously, 279 00:15:00.679 --> 00:15:03.759 when it comes to any kind of a scouting or 280 00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:07.919 port involving Columbus State University, you're drawn to the junior 281 00:15:07.919 --> 00:15:11.080 from the Hill Richmond Hill High School and making her 282 00:15:11.120 --> 00:15:14.360 way from the coast to the other coast, goes west 283 00:15:14.360 --> 00:15:16.000 all the way and goes east. The five to one 284 00:15:16.039 --> 00:15:19.600 forward double digits and goals scored this season for Columbus 285 00:15:19.600 --> 00:15:22.679 State and head coach Jantly, and she has been hot 286 00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:27.240 as of late. Here's our conversation with number two Sarah 287 00:15:27.320 --> 00:15:31.399 Hungerford at Columbus State. Nineteen wins out of twenty. I 288 00:15:31.480 --> 00:15:33.840 know that you guys as a group wanted twenty wins 289 00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:35.600 out of twenty, But when you look back at the 290 00:15:35.639 --> 00:15:38.720 season to date, what has it been like to get 291 00:15:38.759 --> 00:15:42.799 to this point to get ready for season three the postseason? 292 00:15:44.320 --> 00:15:46.000 I think a lot of it has to do with 293 00:15:46.799 --> 00:15:50.639 the mentality and the discipline that our coaches, like from 294 00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:53.919 the tops of bottom day instill in us that, like 295 00:15:53.960 --> 00:15:56.440 previously mentioned, all of us are so disciplined, all of 296 00:15:56.480 --> 00:16:00.080 us are so determined, and we know that when it 297 00:16:00.120 --> 00:16:01.759 puts us on the field, like you have a job 298 00:16:01.799 --> 00:16:04.320 to do, and we all joke around that. He always says, 299 00:16:04.360 --> 00:16:07.279 like you're fresh. You're fresh because you step on the 300 00:16:07.320 --> 00:16:10.399 field like you were just standing, like you have the 301 00:16:10.440 --> 00:16:11.960 time to run now. And I think a lot of 302 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:16.039 it getting those nineteen wins and has a lot to 303 00:16:16.080 --> 00:16:19.440 do with having the confidence to know that you know 304 00:16:19.480 --> 00:16:21.840 what you're going to do and how you're going to 305 00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:23.879 contribute to the team, and then the team as a 306 00:16:23.879 --> 00:16:26.840 whole knowing that we need to win and we're not 307 00:16:26.840 --> 00:16:29.159 going to let anybody else stop us from winning. 308 00:16:30.159 --> 00:16:32.679 But at the same time, you know everyone's gunning for you. 309 00:16:32.720 --> 00:16:35.720 What's it like having to balance the responsibility of knowing 310 00:16:35.720 --> 00:16:38.080 what you want to do versus what everyone wants to 311 00:16:38.120 --> 00:16:38.799 do to you. 312 00:16:40.559 --> 00:16:45.000 I think a lot of that has to do. I 313 00:16:45.039 --> 00:16:47.679 would say the same with the mentality that if you 314 00:16:47.799 --> 00:16:50.720 go in with a fear that like what they're going 315 00:16:50.799 --> 00:16:53.080 to do to me, I know personally it really affects 316 00:16:53.120 --> 00:16:56.639 how I play. So I just need to go in into 317 00:16:56.200 --> 00:16:59.000 every game understanding that this is a new game, and 318 00:16:59.200 --> 00:17:00.960 while I want to win, I'm going to have to 319 00:17:01.039 --> 00:17:05.240 manage my teammates on the field. We're gonna have to 320 00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:07.640 communicate with each other. And then you can't go into 321 00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:10.599 a game. You can't go in expecting to win because 322 00:17:10.599 --> 00:17:13.240 then like you're gonna play maybe not as great as 323 00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:14.920 you could have been. But every game's a new game 324 00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:18.119 and you need to go in with the tenacity to 325 00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:23.079 win that game. And so I think just having that 326 00:17:23.119 --> 00:17:29.160 mentality that, like I said, to win, but to sorry 327 00:17:29.240 --> 00:17:32.880 looking for the word there, you can't be afraid of 328 00:17:32.880 --> 00:17:35.039 who you're playing against, because if you do, you're gonna 329 00:17:35.039 --> 00:17:38.039 play afraid, and then when you play afraid, you open 330 00:17:38.039 --> 00:17:40.880 yourself up to danger of like, well, if I'm not 331 00:17:40.920 --> 00:17:43.759 gonna like take this good pass, or like I'm not 332 00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:45.079 going to take a good touch, then I might as 333 00:17:45.119 --> 00:17:47.039 well not take it at all. You kind of like 334 00:17:47.119 --> 00:17:49.000 cancel yourself out of the game, and you can't do that. 335 00:17:49.720 --> 00:17:52.039 There was a stretch where you put the ball in 336 00:17:52.039 --> 00:17:55.720 the back of the net a lot. When you look 337 00:17:55.759 --> 00:18:00.480 at your film of you doing that, that's wretch of 338 00:18:00.599 --> 00:18:03.079 Land or UCSB Monavalo or it was six and three. 339 00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:06.440 When you look back at that stretch of play with 340 00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:08.400 you in those three matches, what are some of the 341 00:18:08.440 --> 00:18:12.920 takeaways that you have about yourself in those games where 342 00:18:13.359 --> 00:18:16.000 you end up having you know, pretty much half of 343 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:18.000 your your goal total in those three matches. 344 00:18:20.200 --> 00:18:26.319 I think when I look back at games previously, like 345 00:18:26.359 --> 00:18:28.319 I mentioned before, I think I was playing a little 346 00:18:28.319 --> 00:18:33.279 bit scared, like more conservative, that I wasn't the one 347 00:18:33.279 --> 00:18:36.400 who wanted to maybe get the job done. I wanted 348 00:18:36.400 --> 00:18:37.880 to pass it off to someone I thought could do 349 00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:42.839 better than me. And then during Lander, when the I 350 00:18:42.960 --> 00:18:45.039 started to really like tap into like how I can 351 00:18:45.119 --> 00:18:47.519 dribble knowing how I can play. I kind of prove 352 00:18:47.599 --> 00:18:50.240 to myself that I know that I'm the one who 353 00:18:50.319 --> 00:18:54.079 can make those like game winning goals, and I know 354 00:18:54.160 --> 00:18:58.119 that I kind of gave myself the confidence to go 355 00:18:58.160 --> 00:19:00.759 out and just keep playing like that because I know 356 00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:04.119 that if I can score under immense pressure like Inlander 357 00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:06.359 or in games like West Florid in my freshman year, 358 00:19:06.359 --> 00:19:09.680 I know that that shouldn't change depending on who I play, 359 00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:12.279 because those are two extremely tough opponents, and if I'm 360 00:19:12.319 --> 00:19:14.319 able to show up in those games, I should be 361 00:19:14.319 --> 00:19:15.640 able to show up in every game. And I think 362 00:19:15.720 --> 00:19:19.319 just knowing and having the confidence in myself really allowed 363 00:19:19.359 --> 00:19:21.200 me to start. 364 00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:21.640 To play like that. 365 00:19:22.039 --> 00:19:24.160 What's it like to look in the mirror and to 366 00:19:24.240 --> 00:19:26.839 be able to talk to yourself however you want to 367 00:19:26.880 --> 00:19:30.119 talk to yourself and go, Sarah, you know, abcde, What's 368 00:19:30.160 --> 00:19:32.839 it like to stare in the mirror and know that 369 00:19:32.839 --> 00:19:36.799 that's there within you, that you finally have tapped into it, 370 00:19:36.880 --> 00:19:38.880 You found it, and you've sprinted the other direction. 371 00:19:40.680 --> 00:19:41.359 It's funny that. 372 00:19:41.400 --> 00:19:44.079 You mentioned the mirror because at the beginning of the season, 373 00:19:44.319 --> 00:19:48.319 I wrote a list down on a whiteboard and it 374 00:19:48.400 --> 00:19:51.200 said that, like my goals for this season, and like, 375 00:19:51.920 --> 00:19:53.640 I want to be an All American, I want to 376 00:19:53.640 --> 00:19:56.079 score more than eight goals because I've never passed eight goals, 377 00:19:56.720 --> 00:19:59.000 and i just want to play the best I can. 378 00:19:59.440 --> 00:20:01.240 And I've feel like I've done a really good job 379 00:20:01.359 --> 00:20:04.759 of meeting those goals and meeting my expectations, and hopefully 380 00:20:04.839 --> 00:20:07.599 I can continue to do that. But another thing I 381 00:20:07.640 --> 00:20:09.839 did was I wrote on my mirror that I look 382 00:20:09.839 --> 00:20:13.839 at every day. I am not a quitter. And looking 383 00:20:13.880 --> 00:20:15.759 at that every day when I wake up and before 384 00:20:15.759 --> 00:20:18.400 I leave the house, I'm kind of reminded of what 385 00:20:18.440 --> 00:20:21.640 my goals are. And it doesn't just end there, like 386 00:20:21.720 --> 00:20:23.720 I'm not a quitter and I'm going to keep going 387 00:20:24.200 --> 00:20:25.160 until I can anymore. 388 00:20:25.200 --> 00:20:26.000 I'm not going to stop. 389 00:20:27.279 --> 00:20:30.559 Have you dragged other folks into that room to show 390 00:20:30.599 --> 00:20:33.079 them that mirror to reinforce that to them as well? 391 00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:34.960 Is it is it something that others get to look 392 00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:37.680 at too? Or is that just my mirror and I'm 393 00:20:37.720 --> 00:20:40.200 going to look at it myself and reinforce my own behavior. 394 00:20:41.240 --> 00:20:44.359 It's a it's a joke between my roommates and I 395 00:20:44.480 --> 00:20:49.440 because we previously had written like motivating quotes on our 396 00:20:49.599 --> 00:20:52.079 like shared bathroom mirror and so that we can all 397 00:20:52.119 --> 00:20:54.839 like look at it and you know, when you're having 398 00:20:54.839 --> 00:20:56.920 a hard day, seeing that, like, I'm not a quitter, 399 00:20:57.519 --> 00:20:59.720 it just gives you that little extra push. So it's 400 00:20:59.720 --> 00:21:01.640 definite not just a me thing. It's something that I 401 00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:04.359