Women's Soccer Q&A: Courtney Assumma
9/22/2015 2:16:00 PM | Women's Soccer, Competing With Purpose Blog
Courtney Assumma, a red shirt senior from Temecula, Calif., is a 5-foot-9 defender with one goal on the season. She has had to step into a leadership role this year as one of only four seniors on the team. She talks about how the season is going so far, what the team is working on heading into its next games and about her last year as a Wave.
Q: How do you feel the season is going so far?
A:The season has been going pretty well for us. I think that there have been some tough losses most recently that we are growing from. Hopefully we are going to learn from them, and continue to progress and get better so we can finish better than we have started.
Q: As the season continues, what are the goals that you would like to see the team achieve this year?
A:We definitely want to keep the shutouts coming because every time that we have gotten a shutout, it's been pretty good for us, as far as winning the game.But, I also want to see the girls grow because we are a young team. I want to see each individual grow and spark into their own player and create their own personality on the team. I think with a young team, a lot of people are lost in the beginning, so it will be nice to see us grow as a unit, as well as individually.
Q: Being one of four seniors on the squad, have you seen a major shift in team dynamics from last year?
A:I've seen a definite shift. We lost a big class, and a class that played a good amount of minutes last year. I think that it was such a tight-knit group, and a tight-knit leadership group, being part of that class and staying behind was a little different. The team is definitely young, and we are still looking for that leadership, guidance and unity that we had last year.
Q: Have you seen yourself grow into one of those leadership positions?
A:Definitely, and I am still growing! I am not a natural leader (laughs). My leadership style is to lead by example, so I am trying to have a voice and step out of my comfort zone.
Q: Are there any specific ideas or mentalities that are being pushed during training and practices?
A:I think that a huge idea is playing with energy and confidence. A few times,like playing in Arizona, when we have stepped out and have been flat,energy-wise, it has led to consequences. So we are really pushing that idea of playing with energy in training as well as coming into games.
Q: Has that training made an impact on how the team is playing or thinking heading into games?
A:It definitely has. When we have actually played with energy and confidence, we have seen great results. So, hopefully, we will become more consistent in that manner.
Q: This being your last season as a Wave, are there any bittersweet feelings, or are those being pushed out of the mind until that time finally comes?
A:I think those feelings are definitely there. For example, (in last week's 1-0 loss to UCLA on a penalty kick in the 90th minute) it definitely hit home a little more, just because of the flashback of last year, losing to UCLA in the 88th minute in the third round of the NCAA Tournament, and this one was the final minute getting scored on. It definitely brings you back, seeing alumni, it makes me just appreciate the given moment, the given game that I only have,what is it? Ten more, roughly, guaranteed games in college.
Q: Finally, what can fans expect for the rest of the season?
A:In my own words, they can expect a kick-butt mentality, and growth as a unit, while continuing to win games.
