Nicholls soccer is currently at its pinnacle of success, winning six games each last year and this year, a school record, largely due to the roles of their five departing seniors: defender Michaela Gaudin, goalkeeper Molly Mersereau, forward Kandice Champagne, midfielder Sam Etherington and defender Keisha Brown.

With every season comes wins and losses, highs and lows and incoming players as well as graduating seniors. In terms of this year’s seniors, they have amassed yet another school record of most wins by a class with 20 victories.

Both Brown and Etherington are impressed with their total but are confident that the record will not last for long.

“It shows the hard work we’ve put in,” said Brown. “We did not do it alone, but we have worked together for four years as a class and have continuously improved our record and style of play.”

“Twenty wins is a lot for a class in this program, but I expect that total to be much higher in years to come,” Brown said. “We’ve helped set a foundation of what we want this team to be in future years, and I hope the younger girls can continue with it.”

“It means a great deal to have the record. It shows how much this program has improved since Dylan arrived, however, I am pretty sure we will not stay the most successful class for any longer than a year,” Etherington said.

This pattern of incoming and departing players is something head coach Dylan Harrison has become accustomed to, but it is definitely not easy to see them go, according to Harrison.

“To define what they have meant to our team is tough, because mostly it is all of the little things they do for us that make a difference,” Harrison said. “Whether it is their school record of most wins by a class, or establishing a good environment for our players, they have done so much for this program.”

This scenario of helping one another is mutual for the program and players alike. Gaudin has learned valuable lessons through her playing days at Nicholls State University.

“The biggest lesson that I have learned through playing here at Nicholls is that decisions you make in the current moment will have a large effect on how your future pans out,” Gaudin said. “I had a concussion in March of this year, and it was so severe that my doctor recommended I stop playing due to the risk of getting hit again and causing brain damage so severe, that I would not be able to pursue both a law degree and a masters degree. 

“By choosing to follow my doctor’s advice I was unable to play my senior year but was able to complete my four year degree in three and a half years,” Gaudin said. “I have learned the importance of decisions and how to not to take them lightly.”

Champagne can also attest to how she learned valuable lessons through her career as a Colonel.

“Being a student athlete has definitely taught me how to manage my time wisely,” Champagne said. “I believe that this is something I will use in the future no matter what my job takes me in life.”   

When reminiscing of a athletic career, one cannot help but recall single moments that defined ones playing days. For Champagne, this highlight came during her senior year versus in-state foe, the Ragin’ Cajuns of UL-Lafayette.

“Scoring a goal in my last game was pretty great, but the fact that Sam assisted it made it so much more special,” Champagne said.

However, Mersereau cannot look at her career and distinguish one favorite moment because there are too many great memories.

“There is no one moment that can give off all the great memories I have, but it has been one crazy ride throughout my whole experience,” Mersereau said.

When explaining their experience, Etherington chose these three words to sum up their playing days in a Colonel uniform: life changing, entertaining and eventful.

Mersereau chose three different words: passionate, memorable and painful. By painful, Mersereau is conveying her four and a half years of injuries, which ultimately culminated with a concussion and a black eye that she acquired during the season finale versus Texas State.

Even though the season is over and the final whistle has sounded, the players will always have their memories, and the relationships they have forged will never be broken. Aside from the realm of soccer, what Gaudin will miss most are the relationships she has made with her teammates.

“I will miss having the opportunity to be a part of a such a close group of girls.,” Gaudin said. “Seeing them everyday, being a part of their accomplishments and being there when someone needs to be have a family to rally around has meant a lot to me over my tenure here.”

Champagne will miss those same girls and relationships that Gaudin so highly cherishes.

“Honestly, what I will miss more than anything, are the people I have been surrounded by for the past five years,” Champagne said. “I have made such wonderful friends here at Nicholls, and it is very hard to imagine not being around them everyday.”