Izzy Patterson, sophomore on the UT Martin Women’s soccer team, was named the All OVC First Team after the fall season. Although the soccer team did not have as much success as last year, Patterson found a way to dig deep and put herself in a position to compete for accolades at the conference.
Patterson had six points this season with two goals and two assists. She also ranked the highest shot count in the league for a total of 43 shots. Patterson wears number two. We know who Patterson is on the field, so we decided to ask her a few questions off the field to put a face to a number.
How does it feel to be named All OVC first team?
“It is truly an honor to be named first team all conference. This accolade is not possible without my teammates and my coaches, but it feels great seeing my hard work be recognized.”
What was your favorite moment this season?
“My favorite moment of the season was when we beat Little Rock in the first round of the conference tournament. The way our team came together and was willing to do whatever it took to win was such a special experience to be a part of.”
What is your overall reaction to the season? What were the challenges and how did you individually rise above them?
“My overall reaction to the season was just that I feel like there is still so much unfinished business. For how talented each and every one of us is, the results we had and some of the performances we displayed were not our full potential. There is so much to offer from this team and hopefully this rebuild year can bring about something extra special next year. The challenges this season was just the frustration of our results. This season in particular, it seemed like we could’ve played our best soccer and still be on the bad end of the result. For the work that we put in, it was frustrating to see our season go the way it did. For me personally, it was difficult to overcome the frustration we all felt. Honestly, I overcame it by continuing to work as hard as I can on the field, in the weight room, and in my recovery. At the end of the day, we can only control our own actions and if I knew I was doing everything to do my best, then I knew I wasn’t letting my teammates down.”
What was your favorite goal out of the two this year?
“My favorite goal I scored this year was my goal from EIU. When the defender played it back to the goalie, I just felt that someone needed to pressure as hard as they could because I was tired of letting them play it around the back. So I just sprinted as fast as I could toward the goalie, she ended up passing it right to me and I got to tap it in the goal. It was definitely a risk-reward situation and I was very thankful that I chose right and was awarded a goal.”
What do you do to get the best out of your teammates?
“What I do to get the best out of my teammates is just communicate with them. For anyone who has played with me, I am all about tough love and holding my teammates accountable and one of the most crucial things in any team sport to be successful is communication. Some examples could be where on the field, just talking through tough situations within the game or even a drill or talking to my teammates to give them my perspective on a certain situation.”
What is your favorite part of UT Martin soccer?
“My favorite part of UTM soccer is my teammates. I have been blessed with some of the best teammates with great families. The friendships I have developed through this program is something I will never take for granted and know that they will last forever.”
What is your mindset before each game?
“My mindset before each game differs by the different focuses for each game. I always have nerves before each game but I have been told nerves mean you care so I’ll never say my nerves are bad. I try to remember to go out there and play my best. If I left everything out on the field then that is all I could do.”
Do you have any pre-game rituals?
“My one pregame ritual that I stick to is that I love an orange in the locker room before every game. My mom would always remind me at such a young age how beneficial natural sugars from fruit can be before games so before every game I make sure I have an orange in each locker room.”
Tell me why you play soccer. What got you to this point? Why do you love it?
“I love soccer because I love how it makes me feel when I play. The competitive atmosphere is a bonus, but the feeling of playing a great soccer game feels incredible. The endless hours of training with personal trainers on the field, off the field, in the gym… coaches that always believed in me and pushed me to be the best… and my parents who sacrificed so much time and money to make sure I played in the best league in the country to get recruited by colleges to achieve my goal of playing D1 soccer.”
What do you hope for next season?
“My hope for next season is that we, the players and coaches, all come into the season with a chip on our shoulder. Each and every one of us were unsatisfied with the season we had this year. Unfortunately it is over and in the past. There is nothing more we can do about it other than work that much harder to ensure it is not repeated. I know we will. We lost a lot of talent and were faced with countless obstacles along the way. We all grew as players and people and I am certain that will show on the pitch come next fall.”
