The Mayo Girls Soccer team is heading into sections in the hope of upsetting #16 Lakeville South.
Before reaching this point in the season, the Spartans have had to deal with some early adversity, facing three of the top 25 ranked teams last season to start the year 0-3. In fact two of those teams were among Minnesota’s top 10. Still, there is more to an experience than a win or a loss, and the Lady Spartans gained valuable experience and knowledge playing opponents on that level of intensity. In fact, those three challenges paid off.
Dempsey Nessler communicates instructions to her teammates.
Getting back on the winning track, the Spartans came back with five consecutive wins and a combined scoring total of 23-2. Senior captain Dempsey Nessler commented on the start of the season saying, “I think playing more challenging teams in the beginning of the year set us up for success currently, because it allowed us to get in the zone of playing quicker, faster, and harder, so I think if roles were reversed, and we played the easier games first, we wouldn’t be as prepared.” Nessler also explained how by playing those tough opponents they were able to recognize their weaknesses which allowed them to work on ways to protect themselves or improve upon those weaknesses with better ideas throughout the season.
This year Mayo has put up some very impressive stats compared to years previous seasons. Through just ten games they’ve outscored their opponents 26-20, averaging just over two goals a game. Sophomore (SO) Maddy McLaughlin (8), (SO) Marley Smith (7) and (SR) Emily Wiederholt (4) are the Spartans top three leading scorers this season.
Maddy McLaughlin prepares to cross the ball to an awaiting teammate.
Marley Smith, the second leading scorer for the Spartans this year, believes that she has been so successful because her “team has been incredibly supportive, which has contributed to my success.” She notes that they have developed strong chemistry: “We’ve worked together to grow and motivate each other every day, which has helped me improve my skills and become one of the top scorers for Mayo.” Smith praised her team members multiple times, focusing on their supportive and helpful nature. She sees them actively helping her and other girls on the team improve every day.
One of the biggest reasons for the Spartans’ success throughout the years has been Assistant Coach Dario Andrijasevic, a Mayo alumni who has played and coached soccer for the majority of his life. Dario has been with Mayo since 2017, but this season there’s been a little change in his coaching life. Just a few games into the season Dario accepted a coaching job with St. Mary’s D3 girls soccer program. With an extra team to attend to this season, Dario explained how “it’s been hard. I feel like I’m still there to offer some support for the girls, but not being there to help them out for some of the practices where they potentially could need some direction has been a little bit difficult.” With St. Mary’s now being the main focus, Dario says he still finds time, when his schedules align, to be with the Spartans whenever he can.
The players and coaches both know that chemistry is a big strength of this team.
Even though Dario isn’t with the team as much as during other seasons, that hasn’t stopped him from noticing how different the team bonding has been compared to other years, stating, “the one thing I’ve noticed this year is that the camaraderie between the girls has been amazing, and they’ve been so supportive, as well as making everyone on the team feel comfortable, with the older girls on the team kind of leading the charge to create that positive environment.” Dario mentioned that his favorite memory from this year was beating Mankato West, because it was the first time they’d beat West since he joined Mayo’s program.
As of Oct. 2nd the Spartans are sitting near the bottom of their talent packed conference with a record of 1-0-4 and a season record of 7-0-8, but that won’t stop them from applying all they’ve learned this season, working together, and taking their best shot. Sections are starting now.
Photos courtesy of Eli Enke
