Gorczyca steps up for Mount Mercy

by Matthew Ondesko: Managing Editor

There were a lot of questions heading into the 2024 soccer season for Mount Mercy Academy. As they were searching for another division title, the team was replacing a lot of scoring when Rosie Bandura graduated.

Coach Maddie Higgins knew she would have to rely on her defense in the early going as the team was looking to find their identity. One of the players that needed to have a big season would be junior Olivia Gorczyca.

Gorczyca would be tasked to play a key roll as the team forged a new identity. The defense helped the Magic secured another division title with a perfect 6-0 record. Gorczyca, along with her defensive teammates, where a big reason why the Magic head into the Division B finals (this Saturday) ready to fight for another title.

“I love playing the defensive side of soccer and I always have. When I was younger I did start as a forward but I switched to defense very quickly. I typically play center back because I have a good vision of the field in that spot but I am always willing to play other positions like outside back as well,” stated Gorczyca. “Being a versatile player is something that my coach always stressed so even though I do play a more defensive game I can work up the field. As a center back I have realized that in a lot of situations defense doesn’t get the same recognition that forwards and midfielders get. I know this is a pretty common saying but offense wins games but defense wins championships.”

Gorczyca knows to be an effective defender she needs to have good communication on the pitch. To be able to communicate with her other defenders is an important part of the game. The defense all needs to be on the same page at all times.

Also, communicating with the midfielders to help them, especially when their back is to the ball, is important. It allows the midfielders to be able to know who’s coming, and to make sure they can make the right play on the pitch.

“Having the vision to see and anticipate what will happen all has to do with knowledge of the game and being able to read people's body positions on the field. This just comes with how long I have been playing and having friendships with the girls on the field,” explained Gorczyca. “Communication is key with every player on the field but especially with the people that play on the back line with me. I am a very talkative person in the first place so communication typically comes easy to me. On my club team communication is normally just through body language, like when the play is going on if someone gets beat or needs help our whole line can switch positions but still know where they are and what they need to do to complete the play. On my high school team, there is more verbal communication with the rest of the back line and myself.”

Gorczyca has grown a lot during her time with Mount Mercy. Before this season, the Magic didn’t have a junior varsity team. That meant freshman were thrown into the mix right away. It also meant players like Gorczyca had to grow up right away.

“Helping the new players become comfortable and on board is so important to a team working cohesively and to have good morale throughout the team,” stated Gorczyca. “When I was a freshman I felt welcomed by everyone and I know that is something that I need to do now that I am an upperclassman. Bringing positivity and fun to each practice and game are going to be the main ways I show my leadership skills.”

This season, Gorczyca has stepped up more as a leader. She has been able to learn from the upperclassmen the past years, and this year has had a great group of seniors to learn from. This senior class has won a lot during their four years, and Gorczyca has been able to learn from their examples.

As she was asked to step up more, than in years past, Gorczyca was ready for the challenges that awaited her during the season.

“Stepping up will be a fun new challenge, I love making new connections with people and being able to make people feel comfortable in the positions so I am so excited to be able to do that this year,” stated Gorczyca. “My leadership style is making people feel happy and welcomed so that throughout the season we can all grow and become better players.”

As the season comes to and end, hopefully with a State birth and title, Gorczyca will turn her thoughts to her club team. Gorczyca started her club career with the Young Americans before switching to Buffalo Rush.

Playing for a smaller club team has allowed Gorczyca to keep her love for the game, and also still get all the technical training that she needs to be a solid defender.

“I met Joel Maxson at a local soccer camp, he stressed the love of the game and an open learning environment. He wanted us to feel love for the game instead of focusing on wins and losses at a young age. Later on, when I was in about fifth grade I was asked to play for the Hamburg Bulldogs JV soccer team by Coach Joel,” explained Gorczyca. “At this time I was playing travel soccer for the Hamburg monarchs because it was a competitive and fun thing to do. After this Coach Joel started to assemble a team called Young America where he took players from Frontier, Lakeshore, and Hamburg to make a strong team that could start to play at the next level. Coach Joel is my main reason for choosing to stay with a small organization rather than a large organization. Coach Joel really got to know his players and we got looked at more as individuals rather than just a team. From him, I learned so much about soccer like the visuals of the field and I got to make strong friendships with the girls that I have played with for the past five years. Now I am playing for Buffalo Rush because Coach Joel decided to retire after his many years of coaching.”

As she continues her soccer journey, Gorczyca knows she still needs to work on certain things to enhance her game. One of those things is the mental side of the game. Everyone can see the type of player Gorczyca is out on the pitch, but it’s the mental side that no one sees.

Soccer is supposed to be fun. When Gorczyca steps out on the pitch, it is a way to get away from everyday life. She puts enough pressure on herself to be better than she was the game before.

But, in the end, it’s just a kids game, being played by kids.

“When I play soccer I block out everything that happens outside of the game so it is my mental distraction from everyday life. When I play I put pressure on myself to always be better than I was before but I always remind myself that at the end of the day, this is supposed to be fun, competitive, and a little break from everything else,” stated Gorczyca. “I never get too down on myself because growth comes in waves. Everyone has a bad game or a bad practice but without those times I have realized you will never grow as a player and have really good games.”