I laughed when I saw "glue", not because it is funny, but because that is what makes or breaks a team. My name is Madison Bee, I am currently going into my senior year at Mount St. Mary's University. My college soccer journey has been nothing but crazy. I spent my freshman and sophomore year at Temple University. I struggled at Temple, as I was not used to the level of competition. I came from a High school career full of awards and people who put me on a pedestal. Reality set in very fast when I was not the best, and had to work for my playing time. I struggled, I was angry, sad, confused, but determined. I stayed after practice everyday, and worked hard to earn my spot. Eventually, other people began to notice and join me. Monday's, on our off days, we would go to the field to play. I can say for myself, there was nothing but excitement when a teammate who would be at that Monday morning practice would enter the game. The last two games I played 50 minutes in each and scored 2 goals. I felt like my hard work was finally noticed and I am now able to lead my team on the field. when the season ended, I was sad, but counting down the days till the next year!!! That same month, we got a call from our athletic director telling us that our coach was fired. I was crushed, but optimistic that it would not change anything. Shortly after that call, we were sent home for quarantine. I am a competitor, I love a challenge. I pretty much forced all my teammates to join this app called TFL which basically paired us up with someone every week to compete against another pair. Everyone made fun of me at first, but it got a lot of us out of the house because we didn't want to "lose" against the pair we were set against that week. Flash forward to August I was back with my best friends, and a new coach. I will be honest, me and my coach really did not get along. I respected him as he was my coach, but he belittled me and my teammates. The way he treated us made it much more important to be the "glue girl". I was nominated a team captain, but he did not allow underclassmen to be captain. He did allow me to be in the leadership committee which consisted of me, 4 seniors, and one junior. It was the day before our first scrimmage and I snapped my ankle. I was heartbroken. In my crutches, I was a crutch for my teammates. It was in my final meeting, where my coach told me my injuries plagued me and I was getting my scholarship money and position on the team taken. I was heart broken and forced into a transfer portal. I entered the portal in May of 2021 and quickly decided on attending Mount St. Mary's. I brought my lessons from Temple with me here. I helped my teammates through a coaching change this past fall, a very difficult one. Many turned to me as I was open and honest about my Temple experience. This past spring we won all 4 of our spring games for the first time in 12 years. With two working ankles, I led the team in goals with a captains band wrapped around my left arm. My collegiate soccer years have been difficult, but they made me who I am today. The "glue" girl.

KISS, keep it simple sister. This was said to me by my soccer coach Keith Schwabb. Coach Keith was my coach for my small town soccer club in Haddonfield, NJ. When I was in 7th grade, he passed away suddenly from a heart attack. Coach Keith has been the most influential coach I have ever had in my 17 years of playing soccer. KISS lived on and was printed on the backs of our shirts my senior year of High School, it was my friend Sophia's idea, his daughter. I also still write it on the white athletic tape wrapped around my wrist before every one of my division one collegiate games. To me, KISS means to not over think it, simplicity is sometimes all people are looking for. Whether simplicity is in the 15 yard pass to your teammate or the scholarship essay I am writing right now:)!