UC soccer team building togetherness
UC soccer team building togetherness: 
Rafting, rope climbing help Golden Eagles succeed on pitch
By Tommy R. Atkinson
Charleston Gazette
Rope climbing and white-water rafting might have as much to do with the University of Charleston’s success this season as anything the women’s soccer team does on the pitch.
Golden Eagles coach Todd Diuguid included several off-the-field team activities in his preseason schedule this summer to help build camaraderie on a team that has 10 new faces. The team spent a day participating in a ropes course, which uses high and low rope climbing to foster team building, and took a rafting trip down the New River.
“We had a lot of fun with that,’’ smiled UC sophomore Sharon Lapinsky as she remembered the white-water trip after Wednesday afternoon’s scrimmage. “Caitlin [Shaw] fell out of the boat. It was pretty funny. When you do stuff like that it’s a lot easier to play together because you’re familiar with each other and you’re more comfortable. <to see photos from the rafting trip, click here>
“Everyone jokes around with each other. I think that’s really good when you’re on a team. The new girls are fitting in real easy. I think we’ll be able to play well together. We’ve gotten used to each other pretty fast.’’
Those personal connections are beginning to pay off for UC on the field. The Division II Golden Eagles defeated NAIA Mountain State University 9-1 in Wednesday afternoon’s scrimmage at UC’s Triana Field.
UC, which lost 3-0 to Division I Marshall in its first scrimmage Aug. 19, will conclude its preseason schedule at 3 p.m. Sunday at Marietta (Ohio). The Golden Eagles open the regular season at 7 p.m. Aug. 29 at home against Davis & Elkins.
The Golden Eagles are fast becoming one of the elite programs in the West Virginia Conference.
After only posting three wins in 2005, UC made a splash last season, finishing with a 10-8-1 overall record and tying for second place in the conference with a 5-2 mark with a roster comprised mainly of freshmen, sophomores and juniors. The Golden Eagles advanced to the conference tournament semifinals before losing to eventual champion Wheeling Jesuit.
The conference coaches took notice and UC received one of 10 first-place votes in this year’s preseason poll. The Golden Eagles also earned 36 points and were selected second in the Southern Division behind Concord, which garnered nine first-place votes. For the first time, the league will split into Northern and Southern divisions.
“I thought we did very well last year and that was a tremendous step for the program and this year the expectation is for us to win it all,’’ Diuguid said.
The Golden Eagles should be up to the task. UC returns senior defender Andrea Cooper, an all-WVC first-team selection, sophomore keeper Whitney Sharp, a former Capital High School standout who was an all-WVC second-team pick, and Lapinsky, a sophomore forward from Magnolia, Del., who was last year’s leading scorer and also an all-WVC second-team selection.
In addition, six freshmen, two transfers and two walk-ons have added depth for the first time in Diuguid’s six seasons.
“We’re beginning to build a little bit of chemistry,’’ Diuguid said. “We’re beginning to knock the ball around a little bit better. As long as we remain composed in the midfield as well as organized in the back, goals will come. We have a lot of quality finishers this year.’’
Lapinsky said she sees improvement every day.
“We grow every time we have a scrimmage,’’ she said. “We definitely see where we can move on and be No. 1. We have a lot of talent and a lot of speed. It’s nice.’’
“We have a lot of heart and a lot of hustle and we’re starting to work really well together as a team,’’ added sophomore Bailey Bryant, a George Washington High graduate who transferred from Georgetown (Ky.) College. “As time goes by and we have better chemistry we’re really going to succeed. I’m really looking forward to see how it ends.’’
Hopefully with another splash.
Rafting, rope climbing help Golden Eagles succeed on pitch
By Tommy R. Atkinson
Charleston Gazette
Rope climbing and white-water rafting might have as much to do with the University of Charleston’s success this season as anything the women’s soccer team does on the pitch.
Golden Eagles coach Todd Diuguid included several off-the-field team activities in his preseason schedule this summer to help build camaraderie on a team that has 10 new faces. The team spent a day participating in a ropes course, which uses high and low rope climbing to foster team building, and took a rafting trip down the New River.
“We had a lot of fun with that,’’ smiled UC sophomore Sharon Lapinsky as she remembered the white-water trip after Wednesday afternoon’s scrimmage. “Caitlin [Shaw] fell out of the boat. It was pretty funny. When you do stuff like that it’s a lot easier to play together because you’re familiar with each other and you’re more comfortable. <to see photos from the rafting trip, click here>
“Everyone jokes around with each other. I think that’s really good when you’re on a team. The new girls are fitting in real easy. I think we’ll be able to play well together. We’ve gotten used to each other pretty fast.’’
Those personal connections are beginning to pay off for UC on the field. The Division II Golden Eagles defeated NAIA Mountain State University 9-1 in Wednesday afternoon’s scrimmage at UC’s Triana Field.
UC, which lost 3-0 to Division I Marshall in its first scrimmage Aug. 19, will conclude its preseason schedule at 3 p.m. Sunday at Marietta (Ohio). The Golden Eagles open the regular season at 7 p.m. Aug. 29 at home against Davis & Elkins.
The Golden Eagles are fast becoming one of the elite programs in the West Virginia Conference.
After only posting three wins in 2005, UC made a splash last season, finishing with a 10-8-1 overall record and tying for second place in the conference with a 5-2 mark with a roster comprised mainly of freshmen, sophomores and juniors. The Golden Eagles advanced to the conference tournament semifinals before losing to eventual champion Wheeling Jesuit.
The conference coaches took notice and UC received one of 10 first-place votes in this year’s preseason poll. The Golden Eagles also earned 36 points and were selected second in the Southern Division behind Concord, which garnered nine first-place votes. For the first time, the league will split into Northern and Southern divisions.
“I thought we did very well last year and that was a tremendous step for the program and this year the expectation is for us to win it all,’’ Diuguid said.
The Golden Eagles should be up to the task. UC returns senior defender Andrea Cooper, an all-WVC first-team selection, sophomore keeper Whitney Sharp, a former Capital High School standout who was an all-WVC second-team pick, and Lapinsky, a sophomore forward from Magnolia, Del., who was last year’s leading scorer and also an all-WVC second-team selection.
In addition, six freshmen, two transfers and two walk-ons have added depth for the first time in Diuguid’s six seasons.
“We’re beginning to build a little bit of chemistry,’’ Diuguid said. “We’re beginning to knock the ball around a little bit better. As long as we remain composed in the midfield as well as organized in the back, goals will come. We have a lot of quality finishers this year.’’
Lapinsky said she sees improvement every day.
“We grow every time we have a scrimmage,’’ she said. “We definitely see where we can move on and be No. 1. We have a lot of talent and a lot of speed. It’s nice.’’
“We have a lot of heart and a lot of hustle and we’re starting to work really well together as a team,’’ added sophomore Bailey Bryant, a George Washington High graduate who transferred from Georgetown (Ky.) College. “As time goes by and we have better chemistry we’re really going to succeed. I’m really looking forward to see how it ends.’’
Hopefully with another splash.