The Fresno City College Rams Women’s soccer team is looking to pick up where they left off as they kick into the 2012 season.
Head coach Oliver Germond says last season’s 19-3-2 team was one of his favorite team to coach despite the fact that the Rams lost in the State Championships.
“Because we were a group that really bonded well; we worked really hard to be successful and it paid off,” said Germond. “We had great players who wanted to be a part of that team and that made it fun. It inspired me to coach; the players who wanted to work hard and they were rewarded for it by going as far as they did.”
The Rams have a lot of new players because eight of their starters from last season moved on, but Germond expects the team to be just as good, or better than last year’s team.
They also a have few new team leaders such as Brianna Reyes and Paige Mason, who are both playing in their final season for the Rams.
Playing extremely physical is one of coach Germond’s philosophy. Both Reyes and Mason say they are comfortable with playing smart and physical soccer.
Mason has been playing soccer since she was four. She knew that she was a good player when she received her first red-card for playing too physical back in elementary school.
“The referee said that I was playing too rough. I thought to myself that soccer is all about playing physical,” said Mason.
Reyes spoke about her philosophy concerning physical play. “You get to the ball first, and the only way that you’re going to get the ball is to take it,” said Reyes. “You are not going to be able to tip toe around somebody, and they are not going to just give me the ball.”
Both players are extremely proud of playing for Fresno City College. “We have such a good program that I always feel that I have to portray the right image,” said Mason. “I always think twice before I do something. I always think about how would this look on our program. It is such a good program, to me, that I make sure that I am representing it right.”
Reyes says she has the best coaches that anyone can ask for. “They are not just our coaches; they go above and beyond what is needed for us girls. I really enjoy it and I am sad that it’s my last season here,” said Reyes.
Both believe their coaches are very hard on them, but, as Mason put it, “in an inspirational way.”
Mason says coach Germond and assistance coach Drew Mattos both have their strengths and although they are different they click together.
“Coach Oliver is calmer than Drew who is not afraid to say anything. He will tell you straight up how he feels,” said Mason.
Coach Germond says that Mason and Reyes are their team’s leaders. And according to Reyes, what makes her a leader is the fact that she is not afraid to be vocal.
“I know that sometime that players get frustrated and take it the wrong way, if Mason or I say something, but you have to put that aside when you are on the field,” said Reyes. “If I see something that my teammates or I are doing wrong, I will try to help them in a positive way.”
Reyes says she has to give respect before she can get it from her teammates. “If that means communicating with my teammates in a positive way, then that is what I am going to do,” said Reyes.
She also believes that leading by example is a major key to her role as a team leader, “How am I going to tell them to work hard, yet I am over here slacking up; it doesn’t look well. It all works hand in hand: communication, working hard and leading by example,” said Reyes.
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