NDA’s girls soccer team is regularly ranked one of the best teams in the state. In fact, last year the girls were ranked #47 in the nation.  

They have averaged 17 wins a season in the past 10 years.  To put their success in perspective, they have accumulated a 174-64-27 record (.709 winning percentage), have won conference four times and gone to state five times with two runner-up trophies.

Throughout the history of the program the girls have 380 wins in 25 year.  They have won 14 conference championships, made 10 state appearances and collected four state runner-up trophies.

Runner-up.  . . that word seems to hang over the head of this year’s team.

All of the players on the team have a strong will to fight hard with the ultimate goal of a gold ball

“I have 21 strong players…keep an eye on all of them,” Head Coach Bob Rickards said.  

The team has many different strengths.  A stellar and powerful offense that is also complimented by a stingy defense makes for a deadly combination.  With over half the team being seniors, they also have a strong senior leadership component.

All four captains are seniors–Madi Polack, Trudy Quidzinski, Grace Shaw and Laken Anderson.

“They bring a wealth of varsity experience to the team and that really helps the other players,” said Coach Rickards.

With half of the team being seniors, the downside is younger girls with developing talent won’t be able to train, practice or play with varsity, which will make it harder in upcoming  years. However, Coach believes that the younger girls are very strong and that they are going to be able to overcome the imminent loss of seniors.

Another challenge, along with the late arrival of spring, they will have  during this year is their schedule, one of the hardest they have had in years.  Every game is important like always but this year more than ever because there is a new state tournament format.  

To bring home the gold the girls will need to remain focused, trust their coach and his strategies, and stay healthy.