After enduring a 12 hour bus ride to Oklahoma, “where the wind comes sweeping down the plains,” the Nicholls State soccer team squared off against the Oklahoma Sooners and faced a very uncommon doubleheader against a duo of hurricanes: the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes and Hurricane Isaac, a literal category 1 storm.
Though the Colonels fell short in both games, playing opponents such as Big 12 and C-USA foes present a different dynamic than local in-state contenders bring to the table.
Head coach Dylan Harrison said of his team’s experience, “It magnifies our weaknesses as well as strengths, it gives us a chance to see what the top programs in the country look like.”
“It also lets us know the direction we need to move in,” Harrison said. “I don’t know too many players who would not have enjoyed the Friday night game at OU, arguably one of the nicest soccer stadiums in the country.”
Once the team returned home, Hurricane Isaac was barreling towards the Louisiana coast, ready to metaphorically “rain” on the soccer team’s parade. Due to inclement weather, they were sidelined for almost the whole week after the storm hit.
This came at a costly time due to two games scheduled for this week against the University of Lafayette and Southern University. Until the 67th minute, the Colonels held a 1-0 lead over the Ragin’ Cajuns. At that moment they conceded a goal and would later concede another, ultimately falling 2-1.
Before the ULL game, the Colonels did not have much time for preparation.
“We went into the game with one ‘practice’ as a team and even that training session was light due to the game the very next day,” Harrison said. “I think people also forget, not only did we not practice but some of the players needed to stay indoors for days with not even the chance to stay active. We just asked that our players stayed sharp mentally and use it to maybe recharge the batteries after being on the road for so long.”
The Colonels traveled to Baton Rouge Wednesday to battle the Southern University Jaguars.
The players’ families as well as their homes remained undamaged by Isaac’s torrential rains and winds in excess of 70 miles per hour.
“We were very fortunate that our players and their families remained safe as well as their homes,” Harrison said. “We did have some very concerned parents of players from Canada, England, and even other states. However, players and their families in and around the area stepped up big to make sure all of our players were well taken care of. I want to thank once again all of those caring families.”
Since the weather has subsided and school has been reinstated, the players and coaching staff have returned to a much-needed state of normalcy.
“This is the first hurricane that I have dealt with, at least that I remember. I feel like every year there is something new that happens, for only coaching for nine years I feel like I have to be getting close to seeing and dealing with it all.
The next two Sundays, September 9 and 16, the Colonels will play here in Thibodaux against University of Louisiana at Monroe and Prairie View A&M respectively.
The Colonels are now 1-4, but were in a similar position last year at this time after their first four games, only to make a run before conference play where they totaled a school record for most consecutive wins.
“I believe as long as we learn from each game we play we should be better prepared to handle any competition,” Harrison said. “Not only have we played some quality programs, we have played them all on the road to date.”
Coach Harrison is ready to move on with the season and continue right where they left off-as a team ready to endure whatever is blown their way.
“It is another event we faced as a team and came out on the other side of it as a team,” Harrison said. “We just do what these girls do best: keep moving forward.”