This fall the Stillwater girls varsity soccer team has had quite a few senior players that are injured. In the past years the soccer team has been very good so these girls have had intense games and aggressive competition.

 Junior Nataile Weidner is on the varsity team and has been playing soccer since the age of four but started to play competitively at the age of eight.

Weidner said, “Having a lot of players injured affects our chemistry and cohesion on the field and that a lot of girls playing came up from JV and it’s a whole new overwhelming experience for them and that we don’t really know how they play as a player without our team.”

This is Weidner’s second year on the varsity team, she plays forward.

 Weidner said, “It’s a completely different without the seniors from last year, a lot of the girls may not feel that difference only due to the fact that they were on JV last year. The seniors last year were just amazing and performed so well on the team and care about even the little sophomores. It stinks because there were so many and that we had to fill so many open spots too, but they were just great people to be around and loved the game.”

Senior Natalie Johnson has played soccer since she was in second or third grade. It has been her passion ever since.

Johnson said, “I tore my ACL and partially tore my LCL going up against the keeper on a breakaway against Hastings, I will be out for at least 6 months, but it all depends on how my body recovers. Hopefully I’ll have a comeback like AP.”

Johnson plans on going to UND and playing on the girls soccer team there.

Johnson said, “Thankfully my injury happened earlier than later because I should be back in time at UND. I’ll have to work extra hard to get ready for college soccer, but I am willing to put forth the effort.”

Senior Tracy Mather plays defence on the varsity girls soccer team. Mather had a stress fracture in her foot and was out of 4 weeks, she is back on the field now.

Mather said, “While I was injured people who don’t usually play my position had to fill in for me because I couldn’t play.”

Mather is attending UND this fall to play on the girls soccer team.

 Mather says, “As far as I know this hasn’t affected college at all because I am healthy now.”

With many girls injured the team has to put forth more effort to win games and play their best. With the season coming to an end soon the girls will be saying goodbye to the seniors and will be looking forward to next fall.