Love and passion can take someone far, especially when paired with determination and dedication. This past week, soccer player Leila Sadra was recognized for those very qualities as one of the Athletes of the Week.
“It means a lot. I feel like I’ve put in a lot of hard work into our team, and our team puts in so much effort as well. So it feels rewarding that one of us got it,” said Leila Sadra, a freshman on the Women’s Soccer Team.
Leila leads the team with 5 goals and 2 assists, consistently creating opportunities for both herself and her teammates. Her strength and presence bring hope and inspiration to those around her.
“Leila’s a very high-character person. She has a great work rate, she’s a good teammate, and she’s encouraging. And she kinda brings that ‘gel’ that helps to bring everybody together because of her personality, but also her level of play and the intensity she brings to both practices and games,” said Justin Lundin, the Cougars’ Head Women’s Soccer Coach
Kicking off her soccer journey at the age of five, Leila has faced her share of challenges. But with consistency, discipline, and practice, she’s now found her footing and reflects on how far she’s come.
“There definitely was some struggle at the beginning of the season when I wasn’t playing the way I wanted to. I think that affected my confidence. But as the season went on, I feel like I’ve gotten into my groove, and I’ve improved a lot. That definitely set me back a little bit,” said Leila Sadra.
“She’s starting to become a more disciplined player. She’s always been very creative, and now, as she adds discipline to that creativity, we’re seeing her truly grow as a player,” said Lundin.
Leila has scored many goals, both literally and figuratively, thanks to assists from her teammates and coaches.
“I couldn’t do it without definitely my whole team,” said Sadra.
“We’ve been able to observe her really invest in the team and the program and start to take ownership, and move out of just being a strong player into a leadership role,” said Coach Justin Lundin.
