Learn more about the captains of the 2011-2012 Lady Cougars.
Name: Braydan Wiles
Year at SAU: Junior
How long have you been playing soccer? 12 years
How does it feel to be captain? Being captain comes with a certain amount of responsibility and I think we all felt that this year due to our large freshman class. I have also learned how to grocery shop for a big group of people!
What are your thoughts on your team this year? I love our team. We are all so close and have come together, not only as a soccer team but as a family.
What are your goals for the season? Like any other team we want to go as far as possible and win it all! However, we understand that we need to take it game by game so that is what we are focusing on.
Interesting or Random Fact about Yourself: My favorite movie is “The Lion King.” It’s even better in 3D.
Name: Maegan Smith
Year at SAU: Junior
How long have you been playing soccer? 18 years
How does it feel to be captain? I feel honored that my coach trusts my judgment in order to lead the team and I enjoy encouraging my teammates and being a leader by example mostly.
What are your thoughts on your team this year? We are such a close team and are doing so well. Our success has been built on our hard work and I am so proud of how well we have done so far.
What are your goals for the season? I would like to make it to the NAIA tournament. I loved going to Christian Nationals last year but this year I think we could do very well in the NAIA National Tourney. I would also like to win the conference again without a tie breaker.
Interesting or Random Fact about Yourself: An interesting fact about me is while I am a captain and generally an outgoing person, one might think I don’t mind speaking in front of others. However, I am quite the opposite and am deathly afraid of it. So this summer, I had to work Christian soccer camps in Sellersville, Pa., and had to make up my own chapels and therefore learned how to speak better in front of people.
Name: Alyssa Curtis
Year at SAU: Senior
How long have you been playing soccer? 16 years
How does it feel to be captain? This is my second year being a captain of the women’s soccer team; I was a captain as a junior last year. It is an honor and a blessing to be a captain, leader and servant to the women’s soccer team.
What are your thoughts on your team this year? This team is really almost indescribable. We have so many different personalities and backgrounds being brought in as one team, as a family, and it couldn’t be any better. The team has great chemistry and a lot of talent. I love each and every girl on this team for who they are and what they bring to the team.
What are your goals for the season? Obviously to win another national championship, but this year I really want to make it to the final site of the NAIA National Tournament. I would want it to be the championship round!
Interesting or Random Fact about Yourself: I am blessed that for my last season of soccer I get to enjoy it with two of my amazing sisters. Amanda Curtis is a freshman and this is the first time I have ever been on the same team with her and my older sister Angela Curtis is a super senior this year. We are very close and it has been amazing.
Name: Hannah Adams
Year at SAU: Junior
How long have you been playing soccer? 17 years
How does it feel to be captain? There is more responsibility, but my teammates make it worth it.
What are your thoughts on the team this year? This year we have a really tight group of gals. It makes it fun to come to practice and it’s easy to love the game. Not only that, but our team has great potential so that is equally as exciting.
What are your goals for the season? We’d like to make it back to the national finals. A big goal is to make it past the first round of NAIA Nationals.
Interesting or Random Fact about Yourself: I used to be a ballerina.
[WRITER’S NOTE: ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE OCTOBER 2011 EDITION OF “THE PULSE”]