Speaking
of Sports 

by
Lance J. Lilla

 
Communication the
secret to Soccer
'Cats success

May 21, 2011

Last Tuesday the Novi Girls Varsity Soccer team took on the South Lyon Lions for the second time this season. Last time the two teams met the Wildcats had a slow start but picked it up in the second half to finish the game shutting the Lions out with a final score of 7-0. Knowing the magnitude of their own capabilities, the ‘Cats wanted to show us all that they could do it again Tuesday night.

With that goal in mind, the ‘Cats didn’t take it easy on the previously shut out team and went into the game aggressively from the very beginning. Compared to the last time the two teams encountered one another, improvements were made all around on Novi’s squad. Most would think that improving would be the last thing on the ‘Cats mind’s due to the 7-0 shut out last game, but the defending State Champions set much higher standards for themselves than one would expect.

With great contributions from seniors Nikki Greenhalgh and Nicki Caruso Novi was able to score three goals within the first five minutes of the game and reach the mercy rule before the first half ended. The final score of the game was 8-0, which extended the Wildcat’s undefeated record.

Shocked with this impressive performance, I decided to interview junior, Katie Rudzinski whose speed and flawless handling of the ball has secured her a position on the varsity crew since her freshmen year. I wanted to know the secret to the dominance that is so commonly seen once the ‘Cats step onto the field.

Rudzinski explained to me that as a team, they “work together really well and always communicate to let each other know what’s going on around them when they might not be aware.”

Mastering this technique is one of the main factors that allow the ‘Cats to succeed so often and display performances such as the shut out seen against South Lyon Tuesday night.

(c) 2011 Novi Information Network
www.novi.org