By Andy Matarrese
According to women's soccer Head Coach Garrett Smith, accolades and honors for players on his team, or any team, are only indications of something greater.
"Individual success always comes from team success," Smith said.
The women's team has garnered 11 different player of the week awards from local, regional and national organizations. ESPNU and Fox Soccer Channel televised two of the games nationally. Players from the Portland roster were selected to play in last summer's World Cup.
The Pilots' record mirrors the level of individual performance put forward by the team. The women are currently No. 3 nationally and undefeated in WCC play, clinching the conference title in a 2-0 shut out against Pepperdine Sunday. The match was their fifth consecutive shut out.
And all that was in just one season, one that's not over yet.
Smith said he's happy to see his team recognized, but thinks that the goal of the team is always collective and focused.
"At the end of the day, what we care about most is winning the national championship," Smith said.
Last week, sophomore forward Michelle Enyeart earned WCC Player of the Week honors and later Soccer America's National Player of the Week after scoring both game winning goals in the shut outs over Santa Clara and San Diego.
Often, the players can be so focused on playing and winning they don't even know that they have earned awards.
"Sometimes I just find out on the Internet, sometimes I find out from my mom," Enyeart said. "Sometimes I don't hear about it until a couple of weeks later."
Other times, teammates will inform the winners, as was the case one week for a winner from the men's soccer team.
"When (Michael) Gavin was player of the week, he didn't know," sophomore midfielder Greg Rouse said. Gavin earned the WCC Player of the Week nod early last month for his play against Gonzaga on Sept. 29, where he made the game-tying shot.
Rouse told him that he heard it on the radio, much to Gavin's surprise.
As with all team sports, a player's individual commitment is bolstered by the drive to advance his or her team.
"As a coach, you want guys that are driven to be the best player they can be," said men's basketball Head Coach Eric Reveno, adding that although the drive to be the best is understandable, that shouldn't a player's one dominant thought process.
"They have to be motivated by the team's success," Reveno said, adding that the dream of every coach is when the most talented players are the most unselfish.
Whereas success is communal, the motivation to play is very personal.
For many athletes at the Division I level, the sports they play have become ingrained into their lives, especially after playing for years and spending hours at games and practice.
"I can't imagine not playing," Enyeart said. "Even after college, I'm still going to play."
There's what almost amounts to sheer force of habit, but there is also the fun of playing on a team of other driven athletes.
"To play hard and to play together and well together is a lot of fun," Reveno said. Reveno played center at Stanford University and helped lead the Cardinal to the NCAA tournament.
The desire to compete is a strong draw as well.
"As a player; I loved to compete," he said. "I was the guy that daydreamed about diving for loose balls and taking charges."
Rouse said that one of his favorite moments comes in the heat of the game, when the best soccer is being played and both teams are battling out to get in position for a shot.
"It doesn't even matter if you (personally) score," he said. "All your nerves are just on high."
According to Rouse, the greatest satisfaction, what brings him back to the pitch, is the feeling of victory.
"There's a ton of satisfaction in every play of the game," Rouse said. "But I think, ultimately, that the joy of winning games is just unmatched."
