There are so many attributes that make a good coach. Quality game planning and scouting, the ability to motivate, and good eye for talent. But keeping the team focused despite distractions is probably the hardest and most important part of the job description, especially toward the end of the season.
The Massachusetts women’s soccer team will be fighting to focus through many distractions this upcoming weekend especially.
As one of the top head coaches in the nation, Jim Rudy has seen just about everything, but flying to the nation’s capital at a time when the city is under biological attack that has killed two postal workers is something he has never had to deal with.
This will be the first flight taken by the team since the tragedies that shook America on Sept. 11. The team was scheduled to fly to Georgia that following weekend, but the trip was cancelled for obvious reasons, which was fine with the team.
“Everyone was really nervous about [flying that weekend],” freshman defender Carly Turman said.
But this is a team that, as a whole, prefers to keep both feet on the ground as it is, and that is adding to the overall distraction of the situation.
“Our team, in general, had a problem with [flying] even before everything that happened,” said Turman, a frequent flyer herself. “Now, we have a lot of nervous people.”
Rudy will be leading his team onto the pitch against Richmond Friday in Richmond, Va. and then into Washington, D.C., for Sunday’s match-up against George Washington.
Both teams have been less than impressive at home. Richmond is 4-3 on its home field, while G.W. is only 3-3 in the District of Columbia, but the home team has a distinct advantage when an opponent is traveling as far as the Minutewomen are for these two conference games.
Despite a credible 5-2 A-10 record, Richmond (6-7-1 overall) is considered a minor disappointment. The Spiders were selected as the preseason favorite to win the division in the coaches’ poll, but were shutout by La Salle last weekend in their second conference loss. Currently in a tie for third, a win over UMass will give Richmond some extra confidence as the postseason looms closer.
The Maroon and White will have to play on a new surface this weekend in Richmond, something the team prepared for earlier in the week.
“We went to the bubble in Deerfield because we will be playing on that same surface (AstroGrass) in Richmond,” said Turman, who believes the turf will be beneficial for her club.
“We have a fast team, so we do well on any turf or any surface that plays fast,” the California native said.
George Washington is not the powerhouse that the Spiders are, but will head into the weekend with momentum after an emotional 1-0 win over Fordham Sunday. An impressive showing by GW sophomore goalkeeper Christine O’Malley has given the Colonials added confidence in its defense.
The next two weekends will determine the outcome of Coach Rudy’s regular season. By taking the field against top conference opponents with air travel, anthrax and a different playing surface in the minds of all his players, along with the normal issues that come up on road trips, this weekend will go a long way in determining how good the veteran motivator is at limiting the distractions his teams are sure to face.
