In the face of a winless season, the Augustana men’s soccer team is shifting their focus towards rebuilding the team culture and morale. So far this year, the team has accumulated a record of 0-10-2, scoring only one goal to date. The team has been competing in a steady uphill battle since the beginning of last season.
“It is hard when you lose game after game, especially last season,” sophomore Ethan Wheeler said. “Confidence is at a low.”
The lack of confidence the team feels stems from the number of games lost over the past season, according to players on the team. Once the whistle has blown and the game begins, fear takes over and morale drops, causing the Vikings to struggle on the field. This is especially impactful for the players as soccer is a game that is very mentally challenging.
“The game is 99% mental, to be honest with you,” Head Coach Chad Flanders said. “We try to keep things fun and light at times, which keeps their spirit up. That is a big part of it right there. You have to have a positive spirit, otherwise you are not going to be able to compete.”
Flanders is relatively new to the men’s soccer program. He’s been with the team since January and is focusing on changing certain aspects of the team to boost team morale and culture. One way Flanders is hoping to change the team is by recruiting more players to create a more competitive environment in practices, which means more competition for a spot on the field.
“It makes the training environment more competitive,” Flanders said. “We need that because we’re only as good as we are in training.”
Practices are a bright spot for the team. During practices, the team concentrates on making great connections in passing the ball, which translates to making great connections in reading other players’ movements. They have also been working on possession of the ball, with the expectation that connections plus possessions will translate into games.
The team is working on improving its culture. Part of the reason why the team has struggled so much over the past couple of years has been due to an unproductive culture. The team is now putting more of a focus on the players who want to grow and succeed rather than those who bring the team culture down.
“The people who do not want to be there for it are not there, and then people who are in for it are staying,” Wheeler said. “I think in a way, it is the change that needs to happen.”
The most important thing for this group of Vikings is to create a positive environment in which success can be achieved.
“We want to build a culture of winning and a culture of good guys that stand for something,” junior Ben Statz said. “The biggest thing is being the best people we can be on and off the field.”
Although the soccer team is struggling to see success, staying positive throughout this transition phase is the best thing the Vikings are doing for themselves. By putting in their best effort on the field, the team is growing stronger each game.
“Go and give everything you have,” Flanders said. “On game day, if we’re not better and we have given everything we have as a team, every individual collectively, then so be it.”