Women’s soccer has officially ended its season with a record of 10 wins, 3 losses and 4 ties. While the team is not going to the conference playoffs or the NCAA tournament, they finished with a winning record and a PacWest player of the year honor.

Junior midfielder and forward Bella Barrett has won PacWest Player of the Year, and her teammates could not be prouder. Brinn Paulson, a sophomore defender, said, “No matter what, Bella always puts in 110% effort and it shows.” She said she was so proud of Barrett for winning this title and that it was her game winning goals that secured her the award. Paulson said, “She was able to put us on the board when we needed it… and made it look easy.” 

Barrett played and started in 14 games this season, playing a total of 824 minutes. In these 824 minutes on the field, she led the team with the most scored goals, coming in at a total of eight. Overall, the team scored 25 goals this season, and Barrett was able to assist two of her teammates' goals. Six of Barrett’s goals were game-winning, and she contributed to 18 points this season.

Barrett is feeling proud but humble. She said, the PacWest player of the year title “means a lot to me because it reflects the hard work, commitment and sacrifices that went into this season, not just from me but especially from my teammates and coaches…I am only able to play this game because of them, and I thank God for giving me the opportunity.” 

Junior goalkeeper, Bella Miseroy, said, “It means a lot for someone of my own team to win this award, but especially for the person who won it. She is so special to this program.” Miseroy said, “Barrett’s work ethic is unmatched, and it is obvious to anyone who watches a game that she works the hardest.” 

Barrett says that the team was successful by overcoming adversity. “As a whole, I’m extremely proud of how the team stayed unified…It speaks volumes to the character of this group.” 

Paulson stated that her biggest takeaway from this season was “realizing that soccer is so much more than a sport.” She said that her teammates are her “second family” and she is so grateful that she gets to play and work alongside these women day in and day out. “Nothing can compare to college soccer,” said Paulson. 

Barrett’s biggest takeaway was how they can be successful going forward. She said, “Success comes from the details. Staying disciplined and being consistent in getting the little things right is what separates good teams from great ones.”

Miseroy shared similar sentiments about how much the team means to her and said that her biggest takeaway from this season is that “We need every single person on this team and we are stronger together.” The players have a strong bond on and off the field that is evident in their winning record. The ladies hope to carry this camaraderie through to next season as they become the senior leaders of the team.

Because of this strong bond and sisterhood felt on the team, the women celebrate each accomplishment as if it were the game-winning move. Paulson shared her fondest memory of celebrating her teammate Reagan Van Horn’s first college goal. She said, “Everyone screamed and jumped.. I still talk about it with her to this day.” 

Miseroy said her fondest memory of the season is also goal celebrations. She stated, “This is when our team is celebrating together, jumping and screaming on the bench or on the field.” 

Going forward, Barrett hopes to keep getting better as a team. She said, “My goal is to elevate every part of my game so I can be the best version of myself for the program. I want to raise the standard for myself and for the program in order to help push our team even further next year.”

Miseroy said for the future she hopes to “step up where I am being called to.” The team,which  currently includes 11 seniors, will need players like Miseroy, Paulson and Barrett to step up as the new leaders with those seniors graduating.  Miseroy said, "Looking up to people like Bella Barrett brings me hope that next season will be a good one.” 

Tags: sports, women's athletics, Soccer

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