The United Soccer Club’s Craig Maples had his hands full in 2016 as head coach of the ‘05 girls squad. A new team developed due to the changes in birthdate requirements. Maples says this special group of girls faced several challenges throughout the fall season and has answered the call each and every time. “It’s a fun, great group of girls. They spent the year learning how to work hard,” Maples says, “but they’re open to learning, and open to the coaching, and the new ideas.” One of the biggest challenges was incorporating a handful of girls who were playing down a level 6v6, with girls who played 11v11 a year ago. They also lost one of their most talented players mid-season with a head injury, which forced the team to look within themselves and fight. “It took us about three weeks to adjust to her being out and gain the confidence of playing without her,” Maples says. “Early on, we kind of lacked that ability to fight, and our goal in the second half of the season was learning how to compete.” By the end of the 2016 fall season, the team was winning close games, advancing to the finals of the Germantown Invitational in November. The future is looking mighty bright for the USC ‘05 girls.