Sophomore Audrey Adkison chases the ball down the field during the Lady Bisons soccer game Sept. s versus Drury University. "Playing a sport that I love with my best friends for God is the absolute best," Adkison said. Jeff Montgomery Determined and focused, junior Adair Schmidt prepares to kick the ball past her Northeastern State opponent on Sept. 8. Schmidt had two shot attempts, and the Lady Bisons lost the game 4 to o. Jeff Montgomery With swift feet, sophomore Mckenna Smith kicks the ball before being contested by a Christian Brothers defender on Sept. 15. Smith was a foward for the Lady Bisons. Matt Dobson A TEAM Though the Lady Bisons soccer team had not had a winning season since 2006, the 2013 team stayed hopeful to bring their record up with a new strategy, new players and a new attitude. "We have brought in some young talent,"coach Greg Harris said. "I am excited about the freshmen we have coming in. All of our girls worked hard in summer conditioning, and the spring was not any easier." Harris was also pleased that four juniors and five seniors returned to help lead the team, including team captains seniors Jenna Taylor and Hannah Hatcher, who pushed and encouraged the team. Taylor, who started 37 of her 40 games played, appreciated the lessons soccer taught her. "Being a captain two years in a row has definitely been a huge blessing," Taylor said. "It has pushed me to strengthen my leadership and myself and taught me when to be tough and when to encourage." Hatcher, who started every game she played at Harding, said she learned from being ateam leader. "Being a captain last year has allowed me to BECOMES A FAMILY better lead the team this year," Hatcher said. "I'm more comfortable with the position this year because I've learned what to do and what not to do from past experience." Harris felt that the biggest strength of the team was its family atmosphere. "The players have Bible studies and devotionals together," Harris said. "It has brought us together, and that shows when we play." Harris implemented new strategies such as relating the members' physical work ethics to their spiritual work ethics to gear the team towards a winning season. According to sophomore Audrey Adkison, the players practiced their playing strategy in order to become stronger players as well as a stronger team. "We decided to start playing with confidence because we have a lot of talented players, and if we work together as a team, we are unstoppable,'' Adkison said. "Playing with passion is emphasized every time we step on the field because without effort, talent is useless." Adkison said that even though the season started out rough, she felt optimistic after the team's win against Southwestern Oklahoma State. "The season has had its ups and downs; however, we are peaking at the right time," Adkison said. "We lost many of our conference games early on, but we are starting to play as a possession-oriented team and beat Southwestern Oklahoma State University 1-0 on Friday night ... we are heading in the right direction moving into the conference tournament." Taylor said that the Lady Bisons became close to one another because of the challenge of soccer, from the strenuous physical training to the stress of losing games to the joy of victories. "Lady Bisons soccer is so much more than just a soccer program," Taylor said. "We are a group of girls that help each other go through the most rigorous physical workouts and the most mentally strenuous seasons. We help each other get through these times and end up making lasting friendships that are so much more important than soccer. Our love for soccer brings us together, but the friendships that are created last much longer than a single season." Landis Tindell/Michael Wallace 289
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