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petition , while giving the post-collegiate player a chance to further develop for professional and international level play . The UWS player pool is comprised of college players , aspiring and former professionals and international stars .
It was a big jump for Baun who just last year was a sophomore on the St . Mary ’ s varsity soccer team .
“ I had a great experience getting playing time in a few Flash games . It gave me an idea of what soccer would be at the next level ( college ),” stated Baun . “ Being pulled up showed me how to be aggressive while being a composed soccer player .”
Being composed is something that Baun has been doing ever since she has had a soccer ball at her feet . She has been a standout on the St . Mary ’ s team as well as a key player for her Flash club . Even with all the success she had last year for the Lancers , you will never see her be happy with what she has done .
Baun has the drive to be better today than she was yesterday . Whatever she did last season doesn ’ t matter , now it ’ s about this year . Whatever she did with the Flash over the summer is now in the past . It ’ s all about the future for Baun .
“ With complacency comes failure , each year I played in a higher level of soccer and the teams get better so I push myself to become better each year ,” stated Baun . “ I also have team goals and personal goals that I still haven ’ t achieved .”
Achieving those goals are becoming a reality , and they aren ’ t coming without hard work . Baun gives credit to all the coaches she has encountered during her time in the game . Only a junior , Baun has taken away enough from each coaches to mold her game in the way that she likes .
This has given the confidence to go out and execute they game plan that she has in her head . And too not be afraid to take on defenders one-on-one .
“ God has really blessed me with the coaches I received on the Flash . Alex Sahlen really helped my development in the beginning years with great skills and technical foundations ,” stated Baun . “ I was then very fortunate to work under the professional coach Pedro Losa . He had great knowledge of the game . Having these coaches in my formative years was a great . In my later years Rob Ferguson and Brittany Heist were very instrumental in helping me through the college process .”
Besides being a Flash coach , Heist is also the coach , and athletic director , and St . Mary ’ s High School . Heist knows what it takes to get to the next level . She was a standout at Lancaster High School before being a key piece on Boston University .
Heist also played in the Empire States Games and knows what it takes to get the job done . She likes to win , but also makes things fun for her team .
“ Brittney is a great female mentor who cares more about the person than the soccer player . She helps me out with all aspects of life ,” stated Baun . “ Brittney is a great coach but is even a greater person . She ’ s a very generous individual and always puts her players first and wants to help out in any way possible . She sets a high bar for others to reach to strive to do the best .”
Doing her best is something that Baun has been working on hard . Like most athletes , Baun doesn ’ t have a lot of down time . Playing for club and school has been keeping her busy for pretty much 12 months a year .
Baun does try to enjoy her summer . She takes a couple of weeks off to detox before getting right back into it . She takes her sport very serious . After all , not many people have a soccer field in their front year just so they can practice and become the best player possible .
“ I really don ’ t have much of an off season playing high school ball and the
AUGUST 17 , 2018 | SportsUnion 19
Flash . I have about a month between my Flash season and high school season ,” explained Baun . “ I take off two weeks to relax and refocus than the last two weeks I train hard by running , getting touches on the ball and working on drills on my U10 field in my front yard , and also I work with John Opfer with speed agility and strength .”
All this hard work has paid off as Baun has already committed to play soccer at the next level . College decisions can always be tough , but for Baun she knew right away that Lipscomb was the right choice for her .
It checked off all the boxes that she was looking when continuing her career at the next level . It ’ s a great school , in a great location . And it has the same beliefs that her and her family have .
“ I was drawn to Lipscomb because it is a Christian school with a coach ( Coach O ’ Brien ) that places those attributes first and soccer successes second . Also , it ’ s a competitive high ranked D1 soccer school ,” stated Baun . “ It ’ s a smaller school in a great location , and soccer is the main sport ( no football ), It also was strong in my major ( physical education ).”
With all the success she has had already , there is still room for improvement . A second-team All- WNY selection , Baun and her team surprised a lot of people last year . They know they won ’ t be able to sneak up on anyone come this fall and that has Baun and her teammates very excited .
A challenging non-league schedule will test the newly promoted Lancers once the season gets underway .
“ We won the Monsignor Martin B division last year and were very competitive in the playoffs ,” stated Baun . “( It ’ s very important to start well ) the higher level the faster the game .”