Like many sports, a great amount of strategy is involved in soccer, but the Pella girls soccer is already facing a situation that requires some strategic thinking. With roughly 60 girls out between Freshman, Junior Varsity and Varsity squads, Head Coach Sam Mate-Kodjo and assistant coach Dan Vande Lune are faced with the task of finding a way to get all of the girls opportunities to play, while also maximizing each players skills and abilities.

Mate-Kodjo says he typically builds a team in the reverse of most coaches.

“Normally I organize my team from the back toward the front,” says Mate-Kodjo. “I organize the defense first, and it looks like I’ve got some really good kids that are going to be new this year, so I’m going to see how they’re going to develop. [I’m] planning ahead, not just for this year.”

There’s still time for a little strategic shifting, though; the Little Dutch will open their season by hosting Dowling Catholic on April 6th.

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