Niwot girls soccer handles canceled season in stride

First-year Niwot girls soccer Head Coach Jenna Machado will have to wait a little longer for her inaugural season in green and white. But for her 11 seniors, it’s no longer a matter of patience when their season was officially cancelled on April 21.

Niwot had gotten just two scrimmages in before the season was put on hold in early March.

“It’s definitely not what I expected,” Machado said. “I really feel the most for the players and the seniors especially. What they’re going through is really a difficult thing. I couldn’t imagine having my senior year cut short playing in high school, and for the majority of the players, it might be their last competitive season and so I think that’s a really difficult thing. My heart more goes out to them than myself.”

Missing out on your senior season is an ache that not many can relate to. Players in the class of 2020 may not be remembered for their performance on the field, but they will be admired for handling an adversity greater than any on-field opponent.

“I think the players are handling it in great strides and they’re being extremely mature about the situation and being extremely understanding,” Machado said.

Niwot boasted 11 seniors with many of them a part of their 5-9-1 record last spring. Although Machado was new to the role, she and the Cougars had their sights set on the playoffs. With a veteran roster derailed by factors outside their control, the 2020 Cougars will always remain a ‘what could have been.’

“We had some high hopes obviously with a large upperclassmen group,” Machado said. “We definitely had some experience going in which was really exciting.”

Machado has helped the Cougars stay connected by setting up zoom meetings with each grade level on the team. It’s unknown when their next game will be, but the Cougars don’t want to be strangers when the time comes to reunite.

“We’re trying to stay united as a program but it’s difficult during these times,” Machado said. “(We’re) just trying to give some optional workouts or optional contact moments so that we can at least get to know each other and keep the team bonding going.”

No matter how many years of head coaching experience you have, this spring has been a test to handle. Fortunately for Machado, she believes the foundation at Niwot has made the experience much easier. Along with her players, Machado is grateful for how the community and her peers in the building have stood up to the challenge.

“From the support from my athletic director (Joe Brown) and the other coaches, it’s been really helpful being in my first year,” Machado said. “...It could be a lot worse dealing with this.”

Niwot has shown great effort in honoring its seniors with yard signs, banners and a tentative graduation on July 25. The emotions are still appropriately sorrowful for the seniors.

“Obviously they’re sad, not surprised with this cancellation, but still sad,” Machado said. “It’s one of those scenarios where you can understand the reasoning and everything but it’d still be a bummer.”