Settled in the rain-soaked fields behind the Nielsen Tennis Complex, a flock of sea gulls provide the only audience for the women's soccer team, whose practice comes to an end beneath the damp October sky.
High hopes hang in the air as the team files off the field, the upcoming Big Ten Tournament no doubt filling their thoughts. For junior midfielder Molly Meuer, the weekend continues a family tradition of play at UW. Meuer's father Kelly played for the UW men's soccer team and two of her uncles played for the UW hockey team.
\My dad kind of said, 'Why don't you go try this [playing soccer],'"" Meuer said. ""He was a big influence, so was the rest of my family. My uncles, my grandpa, my aunt, my mom, they all went here. Ever since I can remember, I wanted to go to UW.""
Her colors didn't change since she dressed in the red-and-white uniform of her co-ed team, the Gators, but Meuer has definitely grown since she began playing in kindergarten to become a co-captain for the a Big Ten team that is 4-6-0 in the conference and 10-8-1 overall. Starting this Thursday against Penn State, Meuer will be looked to as the team tries to capture their first Big Ten tournament championship since Head Coach Dean Duerst began in 1994.
""It's important that her and the other two captains give us the glue and the momentum,"" Duerst said. ""This is a great opportunity for this team and they have to really embrace that. She's the one that knows that.""
The opportunity to play at UW marked not only a continuation of what her father started, but allowed her to play with girls like senior midfielder Jenny Kundert, that she competed against during high school at James Madison Memorial.
""She's one of those players that's very tenacious,"" Kundert said. ""She never stops and keeps going no matter what. She's one of the most aggressive players I've ever played with. At practice, she'll knock you down and rough you up if she has to, it doesn't matter if you're on the same team,"" she laughs.
Meuer made her mark early on the team, named UW's co-freshman of the year and scoring her first goal in the final game of the season during her first year. In 2002, she began to see her first significant playing time, starting 20 of the 24 games tallying three goals, but Duerst said it's been in the last year that he has seen Meuer grow as a player.
""She's got more awareness around her,"" Duerst said. ""She understands her role, her job within the structure of the team. Even though she's moved a bit, she's more aware as a player. She ends up making some big plays because of that.""
Meuer attributes her growth to discipline, as a result of coaching and help from teammates.
""I'm a lot more disciplined and not as wild,"" Meuer said. ""I've calmed down and relaxed when I go out and play. I've had great leaders ahead of me ... who were great role models for me and I've had people come from below me who affected the way I play. And I've had great coaching ... they've all been a great combination to me becoming the player I am.""
Named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, Meuer and the rest of the team are ready for the tournament, taking place in Madison where Meuer will get to demonstrate her leadership.
""She keeps everyone on their toes,"" Duerst said. ""You play against Molly Meuer you always have to be a little on edge. That helps people become better players. She shows them what a Division I player needs to be. ...She has this kind of concentration where she just makes people around her better. That's how leaders are.\
