K-State Soccer Meets with the Media on Wednesday
Aug 07, 2024 | Soccer
MANHATTAN, Kansas - K-State soccer head coach Mike Dibbini and members of the team met with the media on Wednesday at Buser Family Park. The following is a transcript of Dibbini's session with the media.
Q: Coach, why don't you fill everybody in on how preseason has gone so far and what you've seen out of the players that are returning and what newcomers have stood out to you.
DIBBINI: "You have to go back as far as this spring. The majority of the players, returners, core players have returned as far as you saw on the field last year. We got to a point last year where we started six to seven freshmen, they're all back. Plus the returners that were impactful. They're all back. So if you look back at our spring, through this last match against Missouri State and watching us play, we now have a stronger identity stylistically on the field. We're a possession based team. We have all the players that we've been waiting for, to compete and to play this style of play. Fun, entertaining, possession-style team that you will see. You won't see as much of a direct team that we have been in the past trying to survive. We are going to try to control the game. More tempo. We're finally at a point where I feel comfortable to say we're going to be competitive."
Q: How have you seen things change on the field?
DIBBINI: "If you look back in the spring to now this fall, we haven't lost a game. We've played six matches, some ties and some wins. So we were figuring out how to compete and get results. Even though they're not countable. There's still bragging rights in there and there's still competition, so I feel pretty good about our team. We have a lot more depth but if our key players stay healthy and our key contributors stay healthy, I think we'll be competitive."
Q: Can you describe how you were able to recruit Jayce Woodward to transfer from USC?
DIBBINI: "Yeah, that's a great pickup for us. So it's a combination of relationships as a coach with other coaches across the country. The former USC coach who took the Georgia job sent me a message saying, 'Hey, you should look into this player.' She sent me an email. I remember watching her when she was on her club team and she had already committed to USC. So those relationships always help. Sent me an email, contacted her. Got her out here for a visit and she committed. She's the real deal for us. Manager of the game attacking-wise. She can supply our attack with great passes and has the ability to unlock defenses. Coach's kid and her mom's head coach at Seattle University. So when you have a coach's kid and being around soccer all the time, you get a high IQ there. So we're very, very happy that she's here because she's really helping us. She's kind of like our quarterback in the middle of the field."
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about the experience and maybe the benefit of Murphy (Sheaff) being able to be on the New Zealand international squad and go to Paris?
DIBBINI: "That's an amazing opportunity. It's great for our program to have our first Olympian to go out and represent her country but also bring back that experience here. I know some of you just talked about the drone thing I didn't even know about that. Now, just being around top-notch top players across the world that play the game of soccer, being able to share those experiences and take, you know understudy of some of these top players even though she went as a backup. How neat is that? She's gonna have her opportunity. I mean, she's still young enough where she may get two more stints whether it's the World Cup or another Olympic opportunity. So I think that's great for our program, as far as building confidence in the back end for us and keeping us organized and bringing that leadership ability."
Q: What steps have you seen from her that she's taken forward from last year?
DIBBINI: "She's not afraid to have some conversations with me and helping me understand the team a little bit deeper. And she likes to share her opinions for the best interest of the team. So I really appreciate that and I actually enjoy that conversation because she sees things based on her experience that can help the team and I mean, even just the small, little details. 'Hey, Coach, you know, when we travel on the road, can we room with our same roommates that are here because there's a comfort to it?' I never thought about that. You know, I'm like, 'Yeah, whatever we can do to help us win games.' So just the little details that she brings to the table simply just being comfortable, like you haven't left your own home, being able to share the same roommates. Those things if it takes us to that next step. Her teammates really respect her and they love her personality and who she is and what she brings to the table every day."
Q: Jazmin (Brown) is a centerback and captain. How has she maybe taken a step forward in her leadership?
DIBBINI: "I think our leadership group, and that's the other thing I think we have we've always wanted to be a player-led team, I really feel that we're headed in that direction, our players and our leaders. So the whole team are leaders in general, but we have a leadership council group. They've taken the next step in terms of leading, holding players accountable. Just doing whatever it takes to take this program to the next step, challenging each other a little bit more. Not accepting everybody's personal best and so on. I've seen us grow in that area. You know, when you come out in the middle of June and July, you see 30-plus players out there. That's telling me the leaders are taking over where in the past you only see a handful of players out there so you see that and then you've seen some change. They started their optional captain's practices on their own, a lot earlier than we had been in the past."
Q: What did you learn about your team from the Missouri State exhibition that you just had?
DIBBINI: Missouri State is a tough place to play. It was on their artificial turf, which was very hot. There were some really good moments and there were some moments of like, 'well, we have got to be better in these areas.' So we played Missouri State and then we play Arkansas, two totally different teams. One team is more possession-oriented Missouri State. We got the result. We learned a lot about ourselves. Now we're playing a top-five Arkansas team that is extremely direct and extremely athletic, but they have a purpose in their play. So that's going to give us more opportunity to be exposed. So we can take this information and this homework that we have to do to prepare for Nevada. I got to play everybody and to see what we need to work on after going back and watching film. Offensively, we could be really dangerous this year. If we just keep working on their execution. Defensively, we were missing some key contributors in that match. So it was hard to really see where we can be at in the especially transition defense side. But overall, we got the result on the road and I felt like it was a good start."
Q: What has been the benefit of adding Jaycie Ackerman to the staff? What have you liked about the perspective she brings to the coaching staff but also just working with the players and how's that been?
DIBBINI: It's been probably one of our best additions besides Mario, who we brought in as well as, as a recruiting coordinator. We probably have the most relatable staff we've had since I've been here as far as just connecting with the players. They have the ability to bridge that gap between myself and the team because I am a little bit older. But just having her previous playing experience at Nebraska - four year starter, All-American - to getting drafted with the North Carolina Courage, playing for the Seattle Reign and then finishing up her years at the Kansas City Current before she had to many injuries and she just retired. So she still gets out there and knocks the ball around with them too as well. So I just think from a relatability standpoint, it's something that we needed in our program, and it allows us to use her as a major resource to help us move forward."
Q: Murphy said that she faced some of her shots too and that she's definitely still got a strong leg. Is that helpful when she is someone who's had that kind of success to get on the field with the players?
DIBBINI: "Absolutely. I think anytime you have that resource in that experience of getting out there and helping us get better. I think it goes a long way with the players to really absorb it, and they understudy it. They listen. They respect her. We're just excited that she's with us."
Q: How big of a carrot is it to return to the Big 12 championship this year for you guys?
DIBBINI: That's our number one goal. If we're gonna get back it is because of who we are and what we're trying to do. Do we have a chip on our shoulder because last year we fell short? Last year reminded us of where we don't want to go. I think it started in the spring with our mission. Our goal is we got to get back and not only get back to the tournament, can we do something different and I can confidently say we have the players. We have the depth. And I just feel like as long as our key contributors stay healthy. I think the sky's the limit with this team."
Q: Coach you have some new teams in the Big 12 Conference this year. Talking to some of the girls, they are excited about some of the road trips. What's that like for a team when you're facing a new slate of opponents?
DIBBINI: I mean, it's always fun. Last year, we had the slate of BYU, Houston, Cincinnati, UCF, we didn't get a chance to play UCF. It was great. If we're on the road playing, which this year we play Arizona, Arizona State on the road and see a new part of the country and a new set of teams that may bring a different element or different style of play stylistically and those challenges. So I think it's always great for our conference to have, you know, all parts of the country represented in our conference and different styles of play. So we're excited about the opportunity to get to play them."
Q: You talked about playing more possession this year. Do you feel like that's going to make you more effective offensively just in general?
DIBBINI: That's a really good question. I think our personnel of our team makeup is a more possession-oriented, comfortable on the ball type of player. And when we have the ball, we don't have to worry about the other team scoring on us. And I think that's the mentality we've kind of generated and is like 'hey, when do we have to worry about the other team scoring? It is when we don't have the ball.' So the longer we keep the ball and create opportunities and try to unbalance our opponents, I think it only suits us in our style of play, and who we are. You know each team is built differently. This team is built that way. And we're utilizing the strength of our team, which is what you see. Where we've been training in the last, you know, six months and that's a possession-oriented team with the purpose and trying to find ways to create more chances anytime.
Q: Is that kind of what you have been trying to build towards during your time at K-State or is it a reaction to the personnel?
DIBBINI: "You know, it's something that I've always wanted to do. It is what I've done in the past before I got to K-State. It's being true to myself as a coach, to be honest. It's who I was at the very beginning. And if I stick to that, I think good things will happen. And that's what approach I've started taking since January when we got back from our tough season last year and hopefully, it pays off here with our players because they bought into it stylistically. And you can definitely see a fun, dynamic, possession-oriented team with a purpose."
Q: Jo (Sees) had a pretty good freshman year. Do you feel like you have seen from her maybe, that she's ready to take another step forward?
DIBBINI: I think Jo has done a great job. I mean, all of our sophomores coming in have a chip on their shoulder. They didn't get a chance to get into the Big 12 tournament in their freshman year and all they think about and talk about right now is you know what it's going to feel like when they get there this year, so I think that's what their mindset is.
Q: You mentioned that Jayce was the quarterback in the middle. I'm just curious from a person who hasn't watched her play yet. What prompts you to say that and then also just her potential in that role this year?
DIBBINI: That's a really good question. You could see it in her approach and in the way she carries herself on the field, or her confidence on the ball. Her decision-making and how consistent her decision-making is in the attack. How she supplies her attack, and she can score goals. She did score a couple goals in spring play - one off a corner, one off the run of play - so players around her tend to excel because she makes plays like a point guard, quarterback. She makes plays happen so I think all those intangibles allow her to be that quarterback slash point guard."
Q: Is that something you maybe haven't had at that level?
DIBBINI: Not since Brookelynn Entz. I would say you know, Brookelynn is playing pro in Iceland now and got drafted by the KC Current. She brought that to the table for us. She was the player on everybody else's scouting report. Right? I would say Jayce can do the same thing for us. And we're excited about that."
Q: You mentioned last year being kind of tough. What do you feel like is the biggest lesson you learned from that? year that will help you guys this year?
DIBBINI: "That's a good question. It wasn't a good feeling for us at the end of the season, being in last place. And knowing that the year before we got to the tournament. So it was a humbling season for a lot of us, including myself and I feel like we have a lot of the returning players that played significant minutes especially the freshmen that played. There's six or seven players that probably played over 1000 minutes each. They went through the gauntlet and those minutes are crucial on experiences. We didn't get the results last year. Every single match we were in every single match. They just didn't go our way. Where in the past we were defending for 90 minutes. I think the biggest lesson is we take one game at a time and don't look past the team that is in front of us and just continue to figure out ways to get better each and every day."
Q: Is there anything you feel like besides that experience that will help you get over that hump and those close games?
DIBBINI: "I think the biggest thing is the urgency is going to come from the leadership group that we've committed to. I mean, you see it in training all the time. You can see it in our spring games, and you can see it in our first start here at Missouri State. So being a player-led team, I think that's going to help us a lot more because we all know, the hardest part is managing players that all want playing time but if you have leaders then a team that's bought in and collectively want to play for each other will help it go a long way."
K-State Soccer single-game tickets are available for all home matches in Buser Family Park. Prices start at just $8 when purchased in advance, and are available online by visiting kstatesports.com/tickets or calling 1-800-221-CATS.
Q: Coach, why don't you fill everybody in on how preseason has gone so far and what you've seen out of the players that are returning and what newcomers have stood out to you.
DIBBINI: "You have to go back as far as this spring. The majority of the players, returners, core players have returned as far as you saw on the field last year. We got to a point last year where we started six to seven freshmen, they're all back. Plus the returners that were impactful. They're all back. So if you look back at our spring, through this last match against Missouri State and watching us play, we now have a stronger identity stylistically on the field. We're a possession based team. We have all the players that we've been waiting for, to compete and to play this style of play. Fun, entertaining, possession-style team that you will see. You won't see as much of a direct team that we have been in the past trying to survive. We are going to try to control the game. More tempo. We're finally at a point where I feel comfortable to say we're going to be competitive."
Q: How have you seen things change on the field?
DIBBINI: "If you look back in the spring to now this fall, we haven't lost a game. We've played six matches, some ties and some wins. So we were figuring out how to compete and get results. Even though they're not countable. There's still bragging rights in there and there's still competition, so I feel pretty good about our team. We have a lot more depth but if our key players stay healthy and our key contributors stay healthy, I think we'll be competitive."
Q: Can you describe how you were able to recruit Jayce Woodward to transfer from USC?
DIBBINI: "Yeah, that's a great pickup for us. So it's a combination of relationships as a coach with other coaches across the country. The former USC coach who took the Georgia job sent me a message saying, 'Hey, you should look into this player.' She sent me an email. I remember watching her when she was on her club team and she had already committed to USC. So those relationships always help. Sent me an email, contacted her. Got her out here for a visit and she committed. She's the real deal for us. Manager of the game attacking-wise. She can supply our attack with great passes and has the ability to unlock defenses. Coach's kid and her mom's head coach at Seattle University. So when you have a coach's kid and being around soccer all the time, you get a high IQ there. So we're very, very happy that she's here because she's really helping us. She's kind of like our quarterback in the middle of the field."
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about the experience and maybe the benefit of Murphy (Sheaff) being able to be on the New Zealand international squad and go to Paris?
DIBBINI: "That's an amazing opportunity. It's great for our program to have our first Olympian to go out and represent her country but also bring back that experience here. I know some of you just talked about the drone thing I didn't even know about that. Now, just being around top-notch top players across the world that play the game of soccer, being able to share those experiences and take, you know understudy of some of these top players even though she went as a backup. How neat is that? She's gonna have her opportunity. I mean, she's still young enough where she may get two more stints whether it's the World Cup or another Olympic opportunity. So I think that's great for our program, as far as building confidence in the back end for us and keeping us organized and bringing that leadership ability."
Q: What steps have you seen from her that she's taken forward from last year?
DIBBINI: "She's not afraid to have some conversations with me and helping me understand the team a little bit deeper. And she likes to share her opinions for the best interest of the team. So I really appreciate that and I actually enjoy that conversation because she sees things based on her experience that can help the team and I mean, even just the small, little details. 'Hey, Coach, you know, when we travel on the road, can we room with our same roommates that are here because there's a comfort to it?' I never thought about that. You know, I'm like, 'Yeah, whatever we can do to help us win games.' So just the little details that she brings to the table simply just being comfortable, like you haven't left your own home, being able to share the same roommates. Those things if it takes us to that next step. Her teammates really respect her and they love her personality and who she is and what she brings to the table every day."
Q: Jazmin (Brown) is a centerback and captain. How has she maybe taken a step forward in her leadership?
DIBBINI: "I think our leadership group, and that's the other thing I think we have we've always wanted to be a player-led team, I really feel that we're headed in that direction, our players and our leaders. So the whole team are leaders in general, but we have a leadership council group. They've taken the next step in terms of leading, holding players accountable. Just doing whatever it takes to take this program to the next step, challenging each other a little bit more. Not accepting everybody's personal best and so on. I've seen us grow in that area. You know, when you come out in the middle of June and July, you see 30-plus players out there. That's telling me the leaders are taking over where in the past you only see a handful of players out there so you see that and then you've seen some change. They started their optional captain's practices on their own, a lot earlier than we had been in the past."
Q: What did you learn about your team from the Missouri State exhibition that you just had?
DIBBINI: Missouri State is a tough place to play. It was on their artificial turf, which was very hot. There were some really good moments and there were some moments of like, 'well, we have got to be better in these areas.' So we played Missouri State and then we play Arkansas, two totally different teams. One team is more possession-oriented Missouri State. We got the result. We learned a lot about ourselves. Now we're playing a top-five Arkansas team that is extremely direct and extremely athletic, but they have a purpose in their play. So that's going to give us more opportunity to be exposed. So we can take this information and this homework that we have to do to prepare for Nevada. I got to play everybody and to see what we need to work on after going back and watching film. Offensively, we could be really dangerous this year. If we just keep working on their execution. Defensively, we were missing some key contributors in that match. So it was hard to really see where we can be at in the especially transition defense side. But overall, we got the result on the road and I felt like it was a good start."
Q: What has been the benefit of adding Jaycie Ackerman to the staff? What have you liked about the perspective she brings to the coaching staff but also just working with the players and how's that been?
DIBBINI: It's been probably one of our best additions besides Mario, who we brought in as well as, as a recruiting coordinator. We probably have the most relatable staff we've had since I've been here as far as just connecting with the players. They have the ability to bridge that gap between myself and the team because I am a little bit older. But just having her previous playing experience at Nebraska - four year starter, All-American - to getting drafted with the North Carolina Courage, playing for the Seattle Reign and then finishing up her years at the Kansas City Current before she had to many injuries and she just retired. So she still gets out there and knocks the ball around with them too as well. So I just think from a relatability standpoint, it's something that we needed in our program, and it allows us to use her as a major resource to help us move forward."
Q: Murphy said that she faced some of her shots too and that she's definitely still got a strong leg. Is that helpful when she is someone who's had that kind of success to get on the field with the players?
DIBBINI: "Absolutely. I think anytime you have that resource in that experience of getting out there and helping us get better. I think it goes a long way with the players to really absorb it, and they understudy it. They listen. They respect her. We're just excited that she's with us."
Q: How big of a carrot is it to return to the Big 12 championship this year for you guys?
DIBBINI: That's our number one goal. If we're gonna get back it is because of who we are and what we're trying to do. Do we have a chip on our shoulder because last year we fell short? Last year reminded us of where we don't want to go. I think it started in the spring with our mission. Our goal is we got to get back and not only get back to the tournament, can we do something different and I can confidently say we have the players. We have the depth. And I just feel like as long as our key contributors stay healthy. I think the sky's the limit with this team."
Q: Coach you have some new teams in the Big 12 Conference this year. Talking to some of the girls, they are excited about some of the road trips. What's that like for a team when you're facing a new slate of opponents?
DIBBINI: I mean, it's always fun. Last year, we had the slate of BYU, Houston, Cincinnati, UCF, we didn't get a chance to play UCF. It was great. If we're on the road playing, which this year we play Arizona, Arizona State on the road and see a new part of the country and a new set of teams that may bring a different element or different style of play stylistically and those challenges. So I think it's always great for our conference to have, you know, all parts of the country represented in our conference and different styles of play. So we're excited about the opportunity to get to play them."
Q: You talked about playing more possession this year. Do you feel like that's going to make you more effective offensively just in general?
DIBBINI: That's a really good question. I think our personnel of our team makeup is a more possession-oriented, comfortable on the ball type of player. And when we have the ball, we don't have to worry about the other team scoring on us. And I think that's the mentality we've kind of generated and is like 'hey, when do we have to worry about the other team scoring? It is when we don't have the ball.' So the longer we keep the ball and create opportunities and try to unbalance our opponents, I think it only suits us in our style of play, and who we are. You know each team is built differently. This team is built that way. And we're utilizing the strength of our team, which is what you see. Where we've been training in the last, you know, six months and that's a possession-oriented team with the purpose and trying to find ways to create more chances anytime.
Q: Is that kind of what you have been trying to build towards during your time at K-State or is it a reaction to the personnel?
DIBBINI: "You know, it's something that I've always wanted to do. It is what I've done in the past before I got to K-State. It's being true to myself as a coach, to be honest. It's who I was at the very beginning. And if I stick to that, I think good things will happen. And that's what approach I've started taking since January when we got back from our tough season last year and hopefully, it pays off here with our players because they bought into it stylistically. And you can definitely see a fun, dynamic, possession-oriented team with a purpose."
Q: Jo (Sees) had a pretty good freshman year. Do you feel like you have seen from her maybe, that she's ready to take another step forward?
DIBBINI: I think Jo has done a great job. I mean, all of our sophomores coming in have a chip on their shoulder. They didn't get a chance to get into the Big 12 tournament in their freshman year and all they think about and talk about right now is you know what it's going to feel like when they get there this year, so I think that's what their mindset is.
Q: You mentioned that Jayce was the quarterback in the middle. I'm just curious from a person who hasn't watched her play yet. What prompts you to say that and then also just her potential in that role this year?
DIBBINI: That's a really good question. You could see it in her approach and in the way she carries herself on the field, or her confidence on the ball. Her decision-making and how consistent her decision-making is in the attack. How she supplies her attack, and she can score goals. She did score a couple goals in spring play - one off a corner, one off the run of play - so players around her tend to excel because she makes plays like a point guard, quarterback. She makes plays happen so I think all those intangibles allow her to be that quarterback slash point guard."
Q: Is that something you maybe haven't had at that level?
DIBBINI: Not since Brookelynn Entz. I would say you know, Brookelynn is playing pro in Iceland now and got drafted by the KC Current. She brought that to the table for us. She was the player on everybody else's scouting report. Right? I would say Jayce can do the same thing for us. And we're excited about that."
Q: You mentioned last year being kind of tough. What do you feel like is the biggest lesson you learned from that? year that will help you guys this year?
DIBBINI: "That's a good question. It wasn't a good feeling for us at the end of the season, being in last place. And knowing that the year before we got to the tournament. So it was a humbling season for a lot of us, including myself and I feel like we have a lot of the returning players that played significant minutes especially the freshmen that played. There's six or seven players that probably played over 1000 minutes each. They went through the gauntlet and those minutes are crucial on experiences. We didn't get the results last year. Every single match we were in every single match. They just didn't go our way. Where in the past we were defending for 90 minutes. I think the biggest lesson is we take one game at a time and don't look past the team that is in front of us and just continue to figure out ways to get better each and every day."
Q: Is there anything you feel like besides that experience that will help you get over that hump and those close games?
DIBBINI: "I think the biggest thing is the urgency is going to come from the leadership group that we've committed to. I mean, you see it in training all the time. You can see it in our spring games, and you can see it in our first start here at Missouri State. So being a player-led team, I think that's going to help us a lot more because we all know, the hardest part is managing players that all want playing time but if you have leaders then a team that's bought in and collectively want to play for each other will help it go a long way."
K-State Soccer single-game tickets are available for all home matches in Buser Family Park. Prices start at just $8 when purchased in advance, and are available online by visiting kstatesports.com/tickets or calling 1-800-221-CATS.
Players Mentioned
M
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