The Queen’s Women’s Soccer team’s season ended on Oct. 23 with a quarterfinal loss to the Nipissing Lakers in the OUA playoffs.
While a heartbreaking loss marked the end of the 2024 season, it marked the beginning of another season less visible to fans—the offseason.
Though seemingly unimportant, with no wins or losses to quantify progress. It is often the most substantial portion of the year and serves as a time for every athlete to focus on themselves in a team environment for the success of the program.
“Three times a week, we’re in the gym, and then every single day, we’re utilizing the turf courts that are in the basement of Mitchell Hall, so working on individual technique and small group sessions,” goalkeeper Kirstin Tynan, ArtSci ’24, said in an interview with The Journal.
Time spent training is also used to grow the team, serving as bonding time for players away from competition.
“The girls are awesome. Everyone’s in there all the time, so [it] becomes sort of a really fun hangout for everyone on campus,” Tynan said.
The offseason serves as a time to mentally prepare for the coming season, setting longer term goals focusing on all aspects of the game. The process is a gradual one, focusing on getting better each day. As winter stretches on, by February, the team is able to assess their progress and determine where they stand.
“February, we start to play exhibition games in domes across Kingston and around Ontario, and that also is really helpful to kind of gage where everyone’s at and help us kind of still be together as a team,” Tynan added.
However, being away from competition also allows athletes to tackle individual goals and opportunities to fulfill personal ambitions.
“The off season looks different for everyone, every student athlete, it creates opportunities for us to do certain things, like go on exchange,” she added.
For Tynan, her main goal this season was to sign with a professional team this spring, a goal she fulfilled this past Wednesday g with her hometown team Vancouver Rise FC of the Northern Super League.
“It [my goal] was multifaceted in a way, so helping ensure that I’m giving the right focus to my team at Queen’s. […] I knew that if I do that, then I will help benefit my team,” she said.
It’s an attitude carried by all of the team, ed by the coaching staff.
“One thing I’ve been really proud about being a part of the Women’s Soccer team is the amount of intention and hard work we put in through that time. It really uplifts everyone around us, and I think it’s helped our team be successful once we get to training camp in August.”
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