Siobhan McDonough Takes on New Experiences in Netherlands
10/28/2017 4:44:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Former Captain Grateful for Time with Pitt Women’s Soccer
A four-year starter with the Panthers from 2013-16, Siobhan McDonough was a captain and trailblazer for a Pitt team that began its journey in the nation's top women's soccer conference in her freshman season. A tenacious defender, McDonough has now taken her talent oversees, playing in the top Dutch league with PEC Zwolle. Read a personal account of her time at the University of Pittsburgh and her new role in the Netherlands.
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I played 64 games during my career at the University of Pittsburgh. That's 64 games, translated 4,984 minutes. Before I committed to the University of Pittsburgh I thought I wasn't good enough to play Division I soccer. I had spent the last year and a half of high school listening to college coaches tell me things like "you are a great athlete," "you have a lot of speed," "you have potential." Seemingly all positive phrases at first glance, however, loosely translated, means you are not quite good enough.
A few months in to my recruitment process with Pitt, I had confided in one of the coaches that I was unsure if I was good enough to play Division I, never mind in the ACC. Pittsburgh had been the only school to offer me a scholarship and, at this point in time, even my club coach had encouraged me to play Division III soccer. However, time and time again, the Pitt coaches insisted that I was in fact good enough. So, in the fall of my senior year in high school I committed to the University of Pittsburgh.
Flash forward to the beginning of my freshman season. One practice early on, we were running through a diamond-shaped passing pattern – a pretty basic drill. All you had to do was drive a ball 20 or 30 yards to a player standing at the opposite end of the diamond. A ball travelling this distance should almost always be struck with your laces. About a minute into the drill I, and pretty much the entire team and coaching staff, realized that I had no idea how to strike an accurate ball with my laces. Naturally, panic mode set in, but thankfully, the coaches took me aside and tried to help me.
A lot of practices that season seemed to follow a similar pattern. I would dread technical work and just hope that we would move on to a scrimmage-style drill as fast as possible. Thankfully, what I lacked in technical abilities, I made up for in athleticism, fitness and hard work- and that was my ticket.
The coaching staff recognized my athleticism and saw my willingness to work, and they gave me a chance. After the second game of the season, I was able to secure a starting spot. The rest of my freshman season was a blur. A whirlwind of games against some of the best teams in the country, coupled with the challenge of playing at a position I had never played before. But, regardless of the obstacles and hardships along the, way I was happy because, at the end of the day, I just loved to play and compete, and I was determined to get better.
In the spring of my freshman year I was nominated to give a captains speech. The majority of our team was made up of underclassmen, which had presented me with the opportunity to work in the "leadership group" throughout the season. All the members of the leadership group had been nominated to give a speech, so I really did not think too much of it. I was on the verge of declining the nomination when a phone call with my dad convinced me otherwise. I cared so much about the players and the program that I took a chance and ran.
Admittedly, when it came time to vote for captains, I didn't even vote for myself. However, at the end of the day, I am grateful to say that I was able to serve as a captain for the following three years.
Being a leader on this team presented me with challenges and situations I never thought I would face. I had always been able to lead by example, but this position forced me to try and find my voice, a step I am now thankful for. I was fortunate to always have the support of the coaching staff to help guide and challenge me throughout those years.
Throughout my college career we never became as successful as we wanted to be, but at the end of the day we took some very large strides forward. By my junior year we were able to secure a winning record and came within inches of a playoff berth.
Unfortunately, my senior season did not end up amounting to the historic year we all had planned it to be. Although we fought hard and managed to have some fun along the way, circumstances beyond our control as a team hindered our season.
Did we lose more than I wanted? Yes. But, we lost facing some of the best competition in the country day in and day out. Was learning to play different positions hard? Of course. But it forced me to adapt as a player and learn the game from a different vantage point. Did I make mistakes while serving as a captain? Undoubtedly. But, the mistakes and obstacles allowed me to learn and become stronger. To me a college career should never be defined by wins and losses. A career should be measured by growth, what you were able to do with the situation in front of you, and how hard you worked each and every day.
I could look back at my college career and be upset or angry, but I wouldn't change a thing. That's correct, not a single thing. Because now I have opportunity to pursue my dreams. I am currently playing professionally for PEC Zwolle, who competes in the top division of the Dutch league. We are only two months in to the season, but I am excited for the coming months and looking forward to learning a different way to see and play the game.
I still have room to grow and know that challenges lie ahead, but I am at peace- because I have potential, and now I believe in it.
To my Pitt family, I could have written pages about how much you have meant to me. Thank you to all of my teammates who I had the privilege to know and play with over my four years, each of you is special to me. I also want to thank all of the Pitt coaches. You have shaped both my soccer and personal life in immeasurable ways. While you will always remain my coaches, I am blessed to also call you my friends. Thank you for taking a chance on me.
#H2P | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
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I played 64 games during my career at the University of Pittsburgh. That's 64 games, translated 4,984 minutes. Before I committed to the University of Pittsburgh I thought I wasn't good enough to play Division I soccer. I had spent the last year and a half of high school listening to college coaches tell me things like "you are a great athlete," "you have a lot of speed," "you have potential." Seemingly all positive phrases at first glance, however, loosely translated, means you are not quite good enough.
A few months in to my recruitment process with Pitt, I had confided in one of the coaches that I was unsure if I was good enough to play Division I, never mind in the ACC. Pittsburgh had been the only school to offer me a scholarship and, at this point in time, even my club coach had encouraged me to play Division III soccer. However, time and time again, the Pitt coaches insisted that I was in fact good enough. So, in the fall of my senior year in high school I committed to the University of Pittsburgh.
Flash forward to the beginning of my freshman season. One practice early on, we were running through a diamond-shaped passing pattern – a pretty basic drill. All you had to do was drive a ball 20 or 30 yards to a player standing at the opposite end of the diamond. A ball travelling this distance should almost always be struck with your laces. About a minute into the drill I, and pretty much the entire team and coaching staff, realized that I had no idea how to strike an accurate ball with my laces. Naturally, panic mode set in, but thankfully, the coaches took me aside and tried to help me.
A lot of practices that season seemed to follow a similar pattern. I would dread technical work and just hope that we would move on to a scrimmage-style drill as fast as possible. Thankfully, what I lacked in technical abilities, I made up for in athleticism, fitness and hard work- and that was my ticket.
The coaching staff recognized my athleticism and saw my willingness to work, and they gave me a chance. After the second game of the season, I was able to secure a starting spot. The rest of my freshman season was a blur. A whirlwind of games against some of the best teams in the country, coupled with the challenge of playing at a position I had never played before. But, regardless of the obstacles and hardships along the, way I was happy because, at the end of the day, I just loved to play and compete, and I was determined to get better.
In the spring of my freshman year I was nominated to give a captains speech. The majority of our team was made up of underclassmen, which had presented me with the opportunity to work in the "leadership group" throughout the season. All the members of the leadership group had been nominated to give a speech, so I really did not think too much of it. I was on the verge of declining the nomination when a phone call with my dad convinced me otherwise. I cared so much about the players and the program that I took a chance and ran.
Admittedly, when it came time to vote for captains, I didn't even vote for myself. However, at the end of the day, I am grateful to say that I was able to serve as a captain for the following three years.
Being a leader on this team presented me with challenges and situations I never thought I would face. I had always been able to lead by example, but this position forced me to try and find my voice, a step I am now thankful for. I was fortunate to always have the support of the coaching staff to help guide and challenge me throughout those years.
Throughout my college career we never became as successful as we wanted to be, but at the end of the day we took some very large strides forward. By my junior year we were able to secure a winning record and came within inches of a playoff berth.
Unfortunately, my senior season did not end up amounting to the historic year we all had planned it to be. Although we fought hard and managed to have some fun along the way, circumstances beyond our control as a team hindered our season.
Did we lose more than I wanted? Yes. But, we lost facing some of the best competition in the country day in and day out. Was learning to play different positions hard? Of course. But it forced me to adapt as a player and learn the game from a different vantage point. Did I make mistakes while serving as a captain? Undoubtedly. But, the mistakes and obstacles allowed me to learn and become stronger. To me a college career should never be defined by wins and losses. A career should be measured by growth, what you were able to do with the situation in front of you, and how hard you worked each and every day.
I could look back at my college career and be upset or angry, but I wouldn't change a thing. That's correct, not a single thing. Because now I have opportunity to pursue my dreams. I am currently playing professionally for PEC Zwolle, who competes in the top division of the Dutch league. We are only two months in to the season, but I am excited for the coming months and looking forward to learning a different way to see and play the game.
I still have room to grow and know that challenges lie ahead, but I am at peace- because I have potential, and now I believe in it.
To my Pitt family, I could have written pages about how much you have meant to me. Thank you to all of my teammates who I had the privilege to know and play with over my four years, each of you is special to me. I also want to thank all of the Pitt coaches. You have shaped both my soccer and personal life in immeasurable ways. While you will always remain my coaches, I am blessed to also call you my friends. Thank you for taking a chance on me.
#H2P | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
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