The transition from high school to college is difficult for every student; no one blossoms fluidly from high schooler to collegian. There are ups and downs and sides to sides. Making new friends, choosing a major and adjusting to the dorm lifestyle factor into the stress of the move.
Add college soccer to the equation and the transition from high school only gets tougher. Saint Louis University midfielders Kingsley Bryce and Raymond Lee have made that transition seem simple. Both Bryce and Lee point to the direction of the upperclassmen on the team as a reason for their success so early on this season.
“My other teammates have been helping me and coaching me and telling me what things I need to do,” Bryce, a Dallas native, said. “Its easy to just listen to what they say and just do it. I was able to assimilate quickly because of their help.”
“The other guys on the team inspire me to do well,” Lee added. “A lot of the guys on the team want to go pro, and it’s good to surround yourself with that atmosphere. It keeps me going.”
Even though Bryce and Lee made their transitions look silky smooth, they both have had to make some adjustments. The hardest part of Bryce’s transition has been mental confidence.
“The toughest part was getting out there and knowing that even though you’re a freshman, you can play with these guys, mentally,” Bryce said. “And once you get into that mood, you’re able to play with confidence and make plays the right way.”
Bryce seems to have picked up that mental edge he will need, especially now that the Atlantic 10 conference schedule has arrived. The toughest part of Lee’s young season has been adjusting to the speed of the game, a common struggle for freshmen athletes in any sport. Lee, who calls Kansas City home, is used to out-running his prep competition.
“The speed is very tough,” Lee said. “In high school, you know, you have good teams you play and bad teams. College is a good every game. Every team is amazing and you have to come to play.”
The early success of these two freshmen surely has not been lost on Head Coach Mike McGinty’s radar.
“I think they’re doing
doing great,” McGinty said. “They’ve come in and integrated well with the team. They’re good kids. Positive kids.”
When asked whether or not Lee and Bryce have lived up to what the coaching staff expected, it was the mentality of the players that McGinty seemed to like.
“Our expectations are pretty high, but they’ve got high expectations for themselves, which is something you can’t teach. They’ve both made good impressions and I’m excited to see how they progress,” he said.
Billiken fans should get their vocal chords ready for conference play, and don’t be surprised if a few classic “He’s a Freshman” chants break out if Lee or Bryce bury a goal. There are a lot of question marks when it comes to how a freshman is going to adapt. McGinty seemed pleasantly surprised by Bryce and Lee and their adaptability.
“You never quite know how someone is going to settle and acclimate first time away from home with the demands of college soccer and academics,” he said. “But we knew they were good players before we brought them in. We’re just excited to see them continue to develop.“
Bryce and Lee have both become much more than freshmen players trying to acclimate to college soccer. They have become integral parts of the team. September has been a good month for both midfielders — they each received A-10 Rookie of the Week awards last month. Notching two goals in a win against Tampa not only helped Bryce gain the A-10 Rookie of the Week award, they also helped his confidence on the field as well.
“Those two goals really helped get my confidence up,” Bryce said. “It really gave me the knowledge to know I can play with these guys. I really enjoyed it.”
With A-10 conference play right around the corner, Bryce and Lee seem to be finding their groove. Hopefully the enjoyment and success continue with both of these young players as the season progresses.
