By Kaitlyn Belile, Sports Reporter
Senior forward Madeline Weltin helped the women’s soccer team secure a 3–1 win over St. Peter’s, giving the team a 6–1–1 overall record, and 3–0 conference record to start the season.
Weltin scored two goals, her fifth and sixth of the season, in the second half of the game, while junior Skylar Cornell added her first goal of the season in the victory. With five more goals this year, Weltin can move into the top 10 in program history for goals in a single season. When asked about it, she said that she’s just focused on winning games and, “if I’m able to score the goals along the way, it just makes it more fun.” Weltin also said that she’s always viewed herself as an underdog and never expected to take such a role, but that she is proud to be here.
Weltin says that her teammates have contributed the most to her success thus far, and that she’s just one piece of the puzzle. After being together on the team for the last three years with some of these girls, the relationships they’ve built helps the team work together and cater to each other. Weltin says that aside from her parents, her teammates and classmates, like Sophia Konstantinou, Jordan Spencer, Maddy Ingraham and Emma Oliphant, are the most excited to see her succeed. Weltin, who comes from Chicago, says that “coming out here and playing soccer was kind of a risk, I didn’t know what I was getting into but now I’m really getting in full stride and my parents are just so excited to see me succeed whether it be online or in person. I am proud to make them proud.”
Weltin says that preparing for the season starts in the preseason, when they are just working and “becoming a well-oiled machine tactically,” and that the coaches set the team up for success. By knowing their roles and responsibilities on the field, the team knows how to prepare for games and what to expect. Weltin says that the day before games, she goes through the scouting report, watches film on the other team and refines the last details about the opponent. Weltin’s nonnegotiable pregame ritual is that she goes for a walk in the morning and gets a coffee. Weltin said that even when they were away in Atlantic City, she and Jordan Spencer went for a walk in the morning and got a coffee.
Weltin just wants to continue winning. If she scores goals, she’ll be happy, and if she doesn’t but they keep winning, she’ll still be happy. She wants to see the team succeed, and her success is the team’s success. She wants the team to get to the place where they want to be; in the MAAC playoffs and to the championship.
When talking about her teammates, Weltin says that, “we are a unit, we can’t take a piece out. It's a collective effort.” She knows the stats are swinging her way, but she also recognizes her other teammates and the effort they are putting in. When talking about Sophia Konstantinou, she says that “she hasn’t stepped off the field for a minute in over a year now. She’s the absolute backbone of the team.” The team is special, according to Weltin, and she dedicates all of her personal success to them.
The Griffs will begin a two game homestand against MAAC opponents this weekend, with kickoff against Rider scheduled for Saturday Sept. 28 at 1 p.m., and kickoff against Marist scheduled for Wednesday Oct. 2 at 4 p.m.
Photo Courtesy of Joe Lehrman
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