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Princeton University Athletics
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Lussi, Asom Reflect on U.S. U-23 & U-20 WNT Training Camp Experiences
February 25, 2016 | Women's Soccer
Princeton junior Tyler Lussi and freshman Mimi Asom attended U.S. Women's National Team U-23 (Lussi) and U-20 (Asom) training camps last month in California. Below, the Tiger duo, who led the team to the second round of the NCAA tournament this past season, reflect on their experiences.
Lussi and Asom will head to Europe with the U-23 and U-20 teams in March for international competitions, which you can read about here.
What were your thoughts upon getting the invitation to join the training camps?
Lussi: The first thing I did when I got the invite was question Sean about his involvement and he immediately said, “I did recommend you, but it was Army Women's Head Coach, Marcia McDermott who really helped make it happen.” I have to say (Princeton head coach) Sean (Driscoll) is the most humble coach for which I've ever had the privilege to play. Coach McDermott was not only an All-American at North Carolina, she played for the USWNT and she has been an assistant coach and scout for the USWNT through multiple Olympics and World Cups. She worked with Sean to secure my invite to the U-23 WNT camp. I owe a huge “thank you” to an opposing team's coach who really went above and beyond to promote a player and a team who constantly does their best to beat her players.
My thoughts were, “How many times can a person be right!” Mollie Marcoux had introduced Sean and Kelly to our team about a year ago and she told us that they had as much or more passion for soccer than my teammates and I did. Mollie said that they were going to be great for Princeton Women's Soccer. I was probably the most skeptical, but Sean and (Princeton assistant coach) Kelly (Boudreau)(and Mollie) turned my teammates and me into believers almost immediately. At first, we each individually thought we were the only one getting all the extra attention because there were not enough hours in the day, but when we spoke among ourselves, we could not believe how much time Sean was dedicating to each of us to be our individual best. Every player on our team exceeded her individual expectations. The best example of this was probably Emmy Sura who, beyond being a great leader and captain, became a great soccer player, who inspired us all.
Asom: I would have to say my initial reaction was one of pure excitement. I think I literally screamed. However, that joy was then quickly followed by a crashing wave of nerves. The first thing I did was call my parents and tell them the news. They were so supportive and happy for me which made me feel a lot more confident. After this, I called Sean, who let me know that there had been discussion of me being called into camp all season. He reminded me that they had picked me because they really thought I could be an impactful player for the U-20s. At the time, there was nothing more I needed to hear. Though I knew the road ahead would be difficult, it helped me remember that I was capable of doing this. With this knowledge, most of my nerves dissipated. I was ready to work hard so I could go to camp and do my best, which was all I, or anyone, could possibly ask of me.
How challenging was it to get acclimated with a new set of teammates for a short period of time?
Lussi: I thought it was going to be like other high-pressured camps I had attended where everyone is trying to show their best skills and play the mental games. Don't get me wrong, it was crazy competitive, but in a really positive way. They have a detailed system of numbered positions and specific roles for those positions that all the players who had not been to a WNT camp needed to learn quickly. Once you learned what your job was and what every other players' jobs were on the field, it was like we had been playing together for years. By the time we played the game against Ireland, I knew with my eyes closed where each player on the field was because we each have a specific role to play. It did not matter who the individual player was, the player in each role was going to move a certain way and be in certain locations for each possible movement of the ball. The chemistry that great teams get from all working extremely hard and backing each other up is created at the US National Training Center in Carson, California in a short period of time through assigning roles and responsibilities for every possible game situation.
Asom: The need for a strong team outside of the pitch is, in my opinion, one of the most underrated aspects of a successful team. It takes awhile for players to meet and become comfortable with one another as people, but this trust strongly translates into performance on the field. I think that's definitely one of the things that made Princeton women's soccer so successful this season. Not to sound trite, but we are a family beyond the field. The girls I met at camp were extremely friendly and kind. They welcomed a newcomer like me with open arms and were always willing to help if I there was a concept I had not been introduced to previously or if I just needed someone to talk to. I definitely can't say it was easy acclimating to a group of girls who had much more experience playing with one another previously. However, every time I stepped on the field I felt that much more confident that I understood these girls and how they, and the coaches, needed me to fit into the team dynamic. Lastly, as a forward, my job, at the end of the day, is to put the ball in the back of the net. So though the means may be different, my end goal is always the same.
What was something you learned about your game from taking part in the camps?
Lussi: My Princeton teammates and I have had the advantage of a great deal of time practicing and playing together in the past and for another seven months before next season. If we better define the roles and responsibilities of each position on the field like they do at WNT camp, we can be even more successful than last season. I also learned that the U23 WNT coaches and trainers were extra careful about our daily hydration, regulating everything we ate and drank and made sure we got enough rest each night. This level of optimal nutrition and rest together with all the players making sure they showed up fit and ready play soccer, really gave both USWNT teams the advantage over Ireland (Note: During the camp, the U-23 defeated the full Irish national team 3-0, with Lussi entering in the 46th minute).
Asom: The most important things I learned at camp are the need to diversify my game and the importance of personal accountability. For the former point, we have gotten to a point in our soccer careers where we are scouted and every opponent has the ability to see you play before you step on the field. Being predictable is not an option for a successful player because you will be very easily defended. It's important for me, and any player, to have several different skills mastered (or at close to it as we can get) in order to be unpredictable. As for personal accountability, the national team can't meet to practice every day. So in the time between our camps, it's crucial that each player works on what they personally need to improve. That way, when we arrive at camp, we can work on the team as opposed to the individual.