PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Thirty-One Strong. It’s the number of student-athletes on the 2024 Rutgers women’s soccer team, a desired quality , and a collective mindset mantra. But what holds those 31 together?
The Scarlet Knights employ a method of trickle-down leadership. Under the leadership of team captains, Riley Tiernan, Olivia Bodmer, Kassidy Banks, and Emily Mason, along with Leadership and Performance Coach Cathy Andruzzi, an environment of sisterhood and camaraderie have been established and embraced throughout the team. The expectation is that each person learns to lead in their own way.
As Rutgers heads to its 11th Big Ten Tournament in as many seasons in the league, there have been plenty of statistics and accomplishments on their postseason resume. This particular team relishes in the fact that each accolade is a testament to the team’s culture and togetherness.
A 0.71 goals-against average and eight shutouts: 31 Strong.
Comeback draws on the road at No. 1 Michigan State and No. 19 Penn State: 31 Strong.
Fifth place in the new 18-team Big Ten Conference: 31 Strong.
As the talent and coordination shine through, how does trickle-down leadership create such a united and aligned team? The key to the successful leadership being displayed stems from the team captains’ values consisting of sisterhood, supportiveness, and harmony which proves to be the driving force of each captain’s leading techniques.
Bodmer, goalkeeper and a redshirt sophomore captain of the team, spoke on what she believes are the most important attributes a captain should lead with. “A captain should always be caring and care for everyone on the team since you should always want what’s best for everyone. It’s about being helpful by teaching the younger players and passing on our knowledge.
“A captain should make sure everyone feels comfortable,” said Banks, a senior captain in the back. “It can be daunting coming in as a freshman, so making sure that we’re integrating the team is something I keep in mind.”
As the season continues into playoff soccer, the captains remain focused on building their sisterhood and establishing a caring and reliant atmosphere that encourages players to grow. They are not only leading by example on the field but are also committed to leading off the field as well. These women’s main goal is to build permanent sisterhood,…
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