By Paul
Tenorio, Orlando Sentinel
As the final whistle sounded on Rollins' 1-0 semifinal win on
Thursday, the moment felt like a fitting culmination.
For the individual players, for the
team, for the program.
It was a sentiment echoed by several players and Rollins coach
Alicia
Schuck ahead of the NCAA Division II national championship on
Saturday. The Tars had laid the blueprint for success, put in the
work and bonded as a team.
To be playing for a national title was simply where they were
supposed to be.
"The vital ingredient has always
been there, it's been the team," said Schuck, who is in her fourth
year as head coach after spending six as an assistant. "This team
has been together for quite a few years. When you have senior
leadership and you have a group that is joined at the hip, you can
only expect good things to come from it."
Rollins will seek its first-ever national title on Saturday in
Louisville against defending national champion Grand Valley State
(21-2-2). Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. The Tars (20-2) will enter
riding a 13-game win streak dating back to early October.
Rollins has shown
an ability to blow teams out - they outscored opponents 64-12 in
the regular season and conference tournament - and also win the
tough games - all four NCAA wins have come by just one goal,
including three 1-0 shutouts.
The Tars have found balanced scoring, as well, with three
players registering at least 14 goals and 11 assists.
The key point to the season, however, came not in one of the
many dominant wins, but an Oct. 4 loss to Barry in Miami Shores,
Fla.
"None of us will forget that game," said Hagerty High grad Samantha
Collin. "That was the turning point. We realized that was it,
we couldn't lose another game. No matter if it's a tough game or
we're not at our best, different people stepped up. We were able to
pull through every time. … No matter what, we found a way to
win. If it was a close game late in the season or now in the
tournament, we've always found a way to win. That's a hallmark for
the team."
The resolve has led Rollins to within a win of a championship.
After years of building, it's exactly where the Tars expected to
be.
"These are what dreams are made of," said senior Brenna
McKee. "What we were talking about at seven years old: 'We're
going to be the best soccer players in the whole world.' It's come
to a point, and it's so perfect. I couldn't have asked for a better
ride, and a better group of girls to be with. There is nothing I
would change."
Email at ptenorio@tribune.com. For
more soccer news, visit OrlandoSentinel.com/OnThePitch or follow on
Twitter @oslions.
