Post-Training Press Conference • 4-10-23
Head Coach Laura Harvey and Midfielder Olivia Van der Jagt
Head Coach Laura Harvey
On midfielder Olivia Van der Jagt:
“Yeah, I think she’s a diamond in the rough, really. You don’t tend to find them every year, but third-round draft pick, local girl, expectation levels for her and everybody were low, but she came in last year and had a huge impact on the team and we know, this year, that’s just only going to grow.”
On Van der Jagt’s success and what credits that:
“I think she’s got to take a lot of credit. She came in really ready physically, mentally, tactically, she’s a really good player. I think she just fell under the radar, but not for long, I don’t think, I think she’s gradually getting the recognition that she deserves.”
On playing San Diego Wave FC:
“Yeah, I think home games are always really important in this league. Obviously, they started with two and we haven’t, so I think that’s important for us, to kick off our home stint with a good performance. I think it’s always tough when it’s off the back of an international break. But yeah, we’re excited to finally be at home and get in front of our fans.”
On how much potential the team has this season:
“Yeah, we’re good. We’ve obviously kept a lot of our players from last year. We think that we’ve got a deep roster. We’ve obviously got some really talented players. We know throughout the season that the World Cup will be part of something that we have to manage, so we wanted to try and add some depth to be able to solve that. But yeah, we’re a talented group, we know that, we know that when we play opponents that we always see the best out of them because I think you know that if you don’t bring your best against us, then you’re not going to be able to compete with us, but we have to match that. We have to match everyone else’s best with our best.”
On how much the team builds off of having a packed house at Lumen Field:
“Yeah, 100 percent. I think Lumen was rocking at times last year and we really feel that. I think that when the fans get behind this team, you can see the best out of them. So yeah, we’re excited to have a good crowd and see everybody out there.”
On goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce being one clean sheet away from tying the club record and what she brings to the team:
“I think, obviously again, another one who came in last year as a starter for the first time and sort of, expectation levels again were – let’s see how she does and I think, for her, she’s now gained a lot of recognition, so keeping her standard really high is a big thing for (goalkeeper) Phallon (Tullis-Joyce). We’re excited for her future – she’s young and she’s got a lot of potential.”
Midfielder Olivia Van der Jagt
On her thoughts before the game against San Diego Wave FC on Saturday:
“I’m super excited that we finally have a home game and our home opener. I think we’re just super excited for fans to come out and we’ve been preparing all week. So, we’re feeling good going into this weekend.”
On the excitement of the fans:
“I feel like the energy that the fans bring definitely gives me energy and last year, I feel like we had a really good fanbase and especially that semifinal game, just getting more fans, so I think it will be really exciting to see everyone out there supporting.”
On San Diego Wave FC:
“They are definitely a good team and I think we’ve been preparing all weekend. We’ll continue to prepare leading up to the game. I know that last year was their first year in the league, they did really well, so I think that’s something we can kind of learn from – our games last year – but then obviously things are different this year, so I think we’ve just been trying to continue to do what we do and just work on our game and kind of the things that we want to work on, that’s what we focus on – what can we control, what can we do.”
On how much potential the team has this season:
“I think we have an excellent team and we have many world-class players and I think we go out there every day in practice and we compete and that competition and that edge just gives everyone just that competitive spirit. Everyone is getting better; everyone is pushing each other and I think it’s just a great environment and I think this year will be very good.”
On playing at Lumen Field after growing up in Kent, Washington:
“I’ve told people, growing up, going to Sounders games at Lumen Field and then actually playing on it, it’s crazy. I remember my first game there, I was like, ‘Is this real? Is this what the field looks like from down here?’ Because I’m so used to seeing it from the stands, so I do, I do pinch myself. It’s a really cool experience.”
On her journey from high school to college to playing as a professional:
“Yeah, I think one thing for me is just keep growing and learning, I think that’s a huge thing for me is, learn from the people that we have on our team and just continue to get better and just stay competitive. But I think the learning piece and the older girls giving advice, I think, that’s a huge a thing for me and just keep doing that and each day, just got day by day and work on what you need to work on.”
On falling short in the playoffs and how much that fueled the fire of the team:
“Yeah, it has definitely fueled the fire. That’s definitely our goal is to win the Shield, win the Championship and then obviously, last year, we lost in the semifinals, but I think that’s a huge thing we talk about is that, that’s what we want to do, that’s our long-term goal, we want to win both of those. But also, at the same time, just focusing on each game coming up but in the back of our heads, that’s our long-term goal and we talked a lot about that last year of like, that’s what we want to do and that’s our goal and what can we do better this year to get ourselves there and put us in a good position to win both of them.”
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