Fresh off of a 3-0 win against Fishers, the boys soccer team will face Columbus East on Tuesday, Oct. 7, in the first game of sectionals. With the postseason beginning, it’s all on the team’s physical preparation, mental preparation and their confidence.
The Trojans not only have to dial in their mental game and confidence, but make sure they are physically ready. They do this with their yoga instructor, Kelly Hewitt, who has a national certificate in personal training and group fitness.
Hewitt said she talks to the team about areas they are feeling tight or sore: “For the soccer team, those tend to be hips, hamstrings, and glutes.”
The team stretches with Hewitt once a week, typically after games, for 30 minutes to reduce soreness. She has been doing yoga with the soccer team for six years and said the athletes say they feel way better after.
“Yoga helps us stay loose and fresh after playing multiple games in a week, and my goal is to loosen up tight muscles and recover,” forward Owen Kalmas said.
Hewitt said that since the team has been stretching consistently, there have been fewer muscle-related injuries.
Injury prevention is important to the team’s preparation, as is the mental game. Junior James Ignaut said he feels confident going into sectionals.
“Our team is finally prepared enough for the postseason. Beforehand, I thought we’d struggle, but recently we’ve been picking up the level and putting things together,” Ignaut said.
Ignaut scored one of the team’s goals against Fishers last week.
“That goal does give me self confidence heading into sectionals,” Ignaut said. “It was my fourth free kick goal this year, and it was very far out. Now, I feel comfortable hitting those kicks from pretty much everywhere.”
Heading into sectionals, the Trojans will need to play to their strengths.
“We have lots of strengths,” Ignaut said. “I think we’ve finally started to figure out how to play positionally and who is capable of what. Now that we have built chemistry, we are starting to compete at a higher level.”
Ignaut said he thinks the team’s weak spot has been lowering their guard once they give up a goal.
“That allows teams to increase their lead or get back in the game. We just need to play composed and not get worked up,” Ignaut said.
Kalmas, who is fresh off a hat trick on senior night, said that consistency is key.
“We need to play a full 80 minutes, and not get lazy during games, and stay strong mentally,” Kalmas said.
With the Trojans knowing what they have to do, and feeling ready and prepared heading into sectionals, it will all come down to their motivation and how bad they want it.
“The team last year was number 1 in the nation, so I think everyone wants to try to follow that season up and prove we can still win with all the seniors we lost,” Kalmas said.
