The pandemic shut down many of people’s favourite pastime activities, especially sporting activities. The pause of sports affected many, especially the women’s Humber Hawks soccer team.
They were in the gist of their prime seasons at the school before being forced to close due to the campus closing during the lockdown.
The women’s soccer team were coming off a very impressive six wins, one loss, and four tie season. This led to an impressive playoff run that led them to continue their playoff streak.
One of the players who is on the team during that impressive run is Rebecca Spratt. Fifth-year forward and captain was especially disappointed after the season was cancelled. “It was devastating, for so long I was holding on to the hope that things could be somewhat normal and a season would happen so when the news broke it was definitely upsetting,” said Spratt.
A year later and vaccines in people’s arms, activities were opening again and normalcy was coming back but with a few adjustments.
Even though many rules and mandates have been put in place to keep people and society safe, things are returning back to normal. This includes mandatory vaccination to participate and masks being worn.
This changes the way that Vanessa Reda, a first-year defenceman participates and trains during team practices. Reda is entering her first year on the women’s soccer team and has never had to face this type of challenge in her soccer career.
“We had to wear a mask when going in and out of the indoor fields, before and after games, when the season first started they gave us all hand sanitizer and always made sure we filled out a screening before coming to every practice.”
Nevertheless, with the peak of the pandemic behind them and normalcy coming back the women’s soccer team is now ready to go back to normal when it comes to winning ways.
Coming off a three-win and one loss postseason to bring home a bronze medal the women’s team is looking to continue their success.
Especially heading into the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association season and future seasons, the team is more motivated than ever before.
“The motivation for next year is to do even better than how we finished this year and to take home a provincial gold medal and go to nationals with the hopes of getting a national gold medal as well,” said Rebecca Spratt.
The Humber women’s soccer team is ready to put Humber on the map of success as they continue to strive for greatness with nationals soon to come.