Senior Sarah Schweiss has been on a goal-scoring streak this season, with nine goals already, five of which have been game-winners. Schweiss is currently the second top scorer in the Mountain West and has won Mountain West Conference Offensive player of the week twice.
“She was published as the ESPN national player of the country a couple of weeks back,” said Hudson. “Sarah is incredibly gifted with both feet and anticipates the game really well, therefore getting herself into great goal scoring situations.”
Schweiss is also exceptional in the air and pulls her weight in physical confrontations with defenders much bigger than her, according to Hudson, which makes her a huge offensive weapon.
Over second block break, the team traveled to Idaho to play Boise State and Utah State. They won their first game and lost their second, but Schweiss scored in both games and especially fought hard against Utah.
“In our game [against Utah] we were down 2-0 and Schweiss brought us back into it with a goal. And then it was 3-1 and once again she brought us back into the game with another goal. She’s a fighter,” said sophomore teammate Maddi Dunn.
Win or lose, Schweiss’ tenacity and dedication always inspire the team.
“Her biggest influence to the team is manifested in her work ethic. It’s infectious,” said Dunn. “She’s busting her butt for us so we want to work hard for her in return.”
Although Schweiss is the team’s leading scorer and main finisher, she is extremely humble about her achievements.
“It’s not just a sole effort,” said Schweiss “I’ve been lucky enough to finish [all these goals] but I wouldn’t have gotten there without everyone else helping me.”
Dunn believes that Schweiss inspires everyone to give it their best effort.
“If everyone on the field is giving it their absolute all, we can make magic happen, and it’s interesting how it can all start from one player.”
According to Schweiss, the team always stresses to fight the whole way through a game no matter what. Schweiss notes that when the whole team has drive to push them forward, she finds herself scoring.
“I get the chills immediately after I score,” Schweiss said. “The best feeling is when you score and you run and you hug your team and then immediately you all transition into defending.”
Schweiss loves being on a team and her selflessness is evident to her teammates. “I think the team is just really important to her,” Dunn said.” She’s not out there doing it for herself, or to have the best stats, but because the team needs her.”
So far this year, Schweiss’ favorite scoring moment was in their game against CSU.
“It was overtime tied 0-0. I scored seven seconds into it but from the start of the whistle we just pressed them so hard,” Schweiss said. “Then I scored and when I turned around all my teammates were running at me and we did a dog pile on the field.”
Schweiss has a tireless work ethic, is constantly encouraging her teammates, and leads by example in everything she does on and off the field, making her both a deadly offensive weapon and the backbone of the women’s soccer team.