This season, Wilde Lake Girls’ Soccer reintroduced former Wildecat Matt Aubin to the field as head coach.
Senior midfielder Lauren Lawson says Coach Aubin has “motivated the team to win,”as they end the season with a .500 record.
After winning four regional championships and one state championship while coaching at Mt. Hebron, Aubin led the Cats to show growth in their goals scored.
Last season, the team had 25 goals scored, according to County Sports Zone. This season, the Cats ended with 50 goals scored.
“I decided I wanted to work with [the Girls’ Soccer] program and build it from the ground up,” said Coach Aubin.
Junior captain and center back Sophia Julian says Coach Aubin is “strict in a good way.”
From individual to team drills during practice, Coach Aubin has helped the team better prepare for games, according to sophomore striker Tiffany Blakey.
Off the field, Coach Aubin has helped with “team chemistry,” according to Sophia. Sophomore center back Madi Marchant says, “It’s not always just soccer talk,” as Coach Aubin makes an effort to get to know the team. Coach Aubin encouraged pasta parties as a “great way to team bond,” according to junior midfielder Lauren Sykes.
“It’s something that we can laugh about the next day,” she said. “We all enjoyed the season because there was so much unity.”
By bringing the team together off the field, Coach Aubin has changed the way the team plays as a whole on the field, says Tiffany. He had a “great impact” on the team and made the sport “fun” to play, she says.
“Everybody has a different perspective now, and everybody has the willpower to play,” Tiffany said. “He always believed in us.”
Lauren Lawson says Coach Aubin has really helped push the team.
“He’s really passionate about the sport, so we want to better ourselves. He gets excited, so we’re excited,” she said.
The program is a “collaborative effort” between himself and the players, according to Coach Aubin, “I will do what they want, as long as they are meeting my expectations.”
He says the Girls’ Soccer team is “successful” because of their dynamic.
“A successful team is one that comes together, collaborates, and communicates,” he said.The Cats finished the season with an even record of 7-7-1. The Cats team pulled 4-0 win against Damascus in the first round of playoffs, but they fell short to Glenelg in the second round after a season-ending 2-0 defeat.
Moving forward, Lauren Sykes says “Coach Aubin has a lot of energy. I know he has lots of high hopes for next season. He is just going to bring all of his ambition and energy to use next season.”
