By: Hailey Miller, Staff Writer

The SFU women’s soccer team is off to a fleeting start this season with a .731 winning percentage as of October 25. The Peak interviewed the two senior captains on the team, Katie Richardson and Kate Cartier, to discuss their leadership roles, the team’s success, and more. 

“Starting off really strong is indicative of how hungry we are this year for this win,” Richardson said. “Having the taste of that winning style and attitude we had last year, it just has made us even more eager to do well this year.

“Our team is so fantastic this year and we have such a tight-knit group that our care for each other on and off the field is honestly what drives our winning mentality.” 

Leadership roles are invaluable when it comes to supporting new members on the team. The transition to university-level soccer is a tough one, especially regarding the “intense and competitive” nature of the NCAA. “It’s a lot of physicality and athleticism, where certain teams ride on skill, but also more of a physical game,” Cartier said, stressing that “each team plays very different and specific to their strengths.” 

With Cartier being from Kelowna, and Richardson originally from Ottawa, they both understand firsthand the struggles of being away from home. “It made me realize that I need to dial in to the process and understand who I am as a young individual on the team and understand my role,” Richardson said of joining the team in 2020. This helped her progress the following year, when Cartier joined the team. “You’re so good at your club team when you’re younger, but when you come to university everyone’s good,” Richardson said. As a leader, letting the team know that “they’re allowed to be upset” is key to moving on from a loss. “Your perspective of a loss changes how you compete and how successful you are,” Cartier added. 

“You really don’t know what you’re getting yourself into until you get past that one game, and then you’re moved onto the next,” she said of taking the season day-by-day. “You can’t look too far forward. You really gotta be in the moment, and focus on what’s next, and prepare for each game so specifically.”

From “balancing academics and friendships and relationships,” to handling sports-related pressures and the drive to keep up winning streaks, university athletes deal with lots. “It gets really overwhelming,” Cartier added. “The days that we miss in school get to be very challenging, and I know that’s another type of stress and a hurdle that people have to go through, and I don’t know if people truly understand what it takes to stay on top of things.” With SFU being “a tough academic school,” she said, “you just can’t afford to fall behind in soccer or academics.” However, having mentors and resources to reach out to is key to “development and success,” and making the situation easier.

As the only Canadian member of the NCAA, there’s a sense of pride. “It’s rewarding,” said Cartier. “You’re at a school that people recognize.”

Playing at the elite level against Canadian teams, Richardson said, is “a great battle” but doesn’t compare to “the caliber that the American teams have, in terms of physicality.” The school spirit in the US is something that the team has to grapple with while staying focused.

“Everyone believes and knows we’re capable of so much, but to start a season off as well as we have, it’s just like more motivation to keep pushing, and it’s nice to be rewarded,” Cartier noted. Playing back home all summer and honing their skills is fundamental to the team’s success during the season. 

“We’re just looking to surpass what we accomplished last year,” Richardson added, praising the team’s energy and commitment. “That’s a really big driver in how we’re gonna progress, and what we’re gonna do in practice.”

The team’s current record comes from the efforts of all staff and players involved. “Everyone is so committed, and they just want to see how far we can go,” said Cartier. “Our staff is the most supportive, and they go into training sessions understanding, but they are also there to push us each day and remind us of what we’re doing it for.” 

Performing under pressure is the team’s incentive in quenching their thirst for success. “We’re not just fighting to get to the top, we’re also fighting to just stay at the top,” Cartier stated passionately. “It’s new to our team to have the pressure of being at the top of the table,” she added of the season’s fiery start. “We’ve always been a team fighting for a spot into the top four to compete in the semi-finals and finals.” The team wants to make the comfort of their top position “a little less stressful” going into this year’s finals. 

Both Richardson and Cartier spoke with passion, holding their coaches and teammates in high regard. It’s clear to see why they’re the captains of the team. As their season progresses, they’ll be bringing their leadership and expertise with them both on and off the field to take the SFU women’s soccer team to the top, one goal at a time.