Leadership is homegrown for the Wisconsin women's soccer team (2-1-1). The team's three Madison natives, senior captains Ann Eshun and Katy Meuer, along with redshirt junior Taylor Walsh, have the arduous task of shining the light for the 11 true freshmen just getting accustomed to the collegiate level.
This year is very important because we have a new coaching staff and we are setting new standards,"" Eshun said. ""Our goal is to start this new era on the right path, move forward and have a positive impact.""
Meuer and Walsh share these same goals, and first-year head coach Paula Wilkins thinks her Madison trio is setting a great example for the team to follow, especially when each of them has something different to bring to the table.
Being named the captain of a college Division I soccer team is something very few people can say they have done.
Although it may be a huge honor, there is a lot of responsibility that comes with that leadership position, and Eshun and Meuer handle it well.
According to her coach and teammates, Eshun has proven to be a rock on defense and knows how to motivate the team. She has started all but one game in her career at Wisconsin. Last season, she led her team in assists with seven and was named Wisconsin's defensive MVP.
""I think Ann is one of those players who is very calm on the ball and has a lot of technical ability,"" Meuer said. ""She is one of those people who can motivate others to step it up when they need to.""
Meuer may not lead her team in assists or goals, but she carries intensity that is contagious.
""Katy is very well respected by everyone on the team,"" Eshun said. ""She is the hardest working person I ever met and is someone to look up to that way.""
Although she is not a team captain, Walsh still leads by example. Last season, Walsh led the Badgers in scoring with six goals and 17 points. Walsh was also awarded the 2006 team co-offensive player of the year. This year, Walsh has already scored two goals and is hoping to net a few more this weekend when the Badgers travel to BYU and Northern Arizona.
""Taylor just has great finishing ability and is a threat up front,"" Wilkins said. ""She's fun to watch and I think people should come watch her play with some of the things that she can do and the excitement she can create in the final third.""
The Madison trio's leadership extends off of the soccer field, too. Eshun, Meuer and Walsh have found a lot of success in the classroom with each one earning Academic All Big Ten honors at least once.
These three ladies have been playing together since they were in middle school even though they all attended different high schools. From sixth grade and through the high school years, they competed on a Madison-area club team and were also members of the prestigious Olympic Development Program, consisting of players from across Wisconsin that competed on a national level.
According to Walsh, when it came time to pick a college, Meuer was the first one to sign with the Badgers, followed soon after by herself and Eshun.
""We all were pretty excited to find out that the others had committed to UW,"" Walsh said. ""Katy and Ann are my best friends, so they were just another reason for me to commit.""
They all chose Wisconsin because it was the best decision for them as individuals, but being teammates was an added bonus.
""It was nice knowing people coming into Madison, especially because we all chose to come here on our own,"" Eshun said. ""When we were young, we were told to pick a college that was best for us and not for the teammates because teammates can change. I definitely am happy Katy and Taylor are here with me, though.""
Walsh said that her friendships with Eshun and Meuer have grown even stronger over the past four years, and she believes that trust carries over onto the soccer field and contributes to their success.
Due to a knee injury early in her freshman season, Walsh needed to take a medical redshirt. Therefore, she will be eligible to play an extra year after her teammates finish their college soccer careers at the end of this season.
""I have so many memories with those two,"" Walsh said. ""My most memorable moment was when I recovered from my knee injury ... and I scored my first goal of the season,"" Walsh said. ""It was an assist from Ann, and she set me up really nice. It was a moment for us. We were both really excited.""
Walsh said she will miss Eshun and Meuer next year, but their main focus is on the long season they have ahead of them.
