By Jamie Clark
Head Coach, Washington Men’s Soccer
When our team’s historic run to the 2021 NCAA College Cup finally ended, the magic remained.
It had been a spectacular ride through an 18-2-2 season that tied our program’s record for most wins, set the bar for the best start to a season in program history, and saw Husky Men’s Soccer make it to the national championship game for the first time ever. We took silver to Clemson’s gold in a tough 2-0 final match, but as disappointed as we were, no one wanted it to end.
Together, united as we’d been all season, our team remained on the field amid and long after the winning team’s celebration. When the grounds crew finally shooed us off to the locker room, we stayed there until they turned the lights out on us. This year, this team, this experience, it was all too special to say goodbye.
These are the moments we live for as coaches. We tell our players: persevere, give your all in every practice, play your role, grow, improve, push each other, put the team first. Then you get an extraordinary group of student-athletes, along with a few lucky breaks, and it all comes together. They believe in each other and in their ability to win. They experience something so rich and meaningful that it becomes part of them forever.
One other milestone meant the world to us this season: we broke the record for home game attendance. Our alumni, fans and donors were the extra power behind our kicks. Because of you, we had the resources and support we needed to excel. Add to that a staff and an Athletic Department that did everything possible to make the team feel special and what you get is, well, magic.
I’m so fortunate to call this a job. It’s an honor to see these young men fulfill their potential. Now, we have a shared belief that we can make it to the championship game. Each season is reinvention. Each student-athlete a success story yet to be written. Thank you all for coming along for the ride!
