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09/17/2024 12:03 PMPiper Lea fell in love with the game of soccer essentially from birth. And her passion for the pitch carried across the pond–moving over the Atlantic and finding a new home to make a splash with the Hand girls’ soccer team.
The Hand senior started playing soccer at the age of 3, after her older brother helped introduce her to the sport. After growing up in England, Piper and her family moved to Madison her sophomore year of high school, and she joined the Tigers girls’ soccer team. Two years later, Piper has become an integral member of the squad as an attacking center midfielder and senior captain--helping the Tigers storm out to a 4-0 start.
“I love the friendships you can make through the sport, and it also offers you chances to grow as a person through it. It gives you ways to work harder and be better,” says Piper. “I love being able to always work at the sport, even on off days. I just think that mentality to strive and to keep pushing has helped me. I always take a chance to work at the sport and be around the ball. Even if I am by myself, I will work on free kicks.”
Playing a position that brings about a great duality with attacking center mid, Piper explains it gives her a chance to express her individuality as a competitor. She gets to get the full scope of the field while taking a patient approach when it comes to deciding when and how to strike.
“I love how creative the position is,” says Piper. “I love playing through balls, and I like having a lot of space out there. It’s great to be able to use your vision to set up goals and assists. I love the variety of the position. It can be challenging with some of the defensive parts of it and getting back on defense and recovering.”
Piper details that her upbringing in the sport helped her house a more durable mindset than perhaps her contemporaries. She has learned over the years that mistakes can’t be dwelled on, and having that attitude has helped her to see a lot of success on the field.
“Growing up, I played the sport with a lot of boys, which I think added toughness to my mentality,” Piper says. “Within a game, I just remember a mistake is not the end of the world. I also recognize how I can improve upon a mistake. It is a me vs. me game, but I have that mentality that I just have to be better than the day before. My strength is in my range and my vision with passing. I love to scan the field before receiving a ball, and I am always thinking a step ahead.”
Moving to America, there was a bit of a culture shock to Piper when it came to the books and the soccer ball. Though her teammates and coaches at Madison really helped to level the roads of assimilation into the Tigers’ family.
“It was a big shift here compared to England with soccer and school. But I actually settled in quickly, and everyone was welcoming,” says Piper. “I got close with the freshmen when I got here, and they became my best friends. Everyone made it such a happy place to play.”
Hand girls’ soccer Head Coach Rob McConville says that Piper's rapid ascendancy to the captain’s helm in just two short campaigns is the strongest sign of the admiration her teammates hold for her. As someone who is ready to anticipate her opponents’ next moves and always looks for ways to improve her game, Piper remains an empathetic and encouraging leader to teammates in the process.
“In very short order, Piper became an integral part of our program, not only for her skill on the field, but also the way she treats her teammates and embraces a team first mentality. To be voted by her teammates as a captain only two years after moving to a new country speaks volumes about her character and leadership,” says McConville. “On the pitch, Piper plays the game on a very high level. Her ability to think a step ahead and execute technically is a big factor in our success in games through the middle of the field. She is always receptive to critical feedback and thrives on competition. She holds a high standard for not only herself, but also those around her. She is always positive in her leadership style and helps raise the level of those around her with constant support both on and off the field. I can't speak highly enough about the impact she has had on our program in two short years.”
As Piper looks to make the most of her final foray in a Tigers uniform, she also wants her team to give 100% effort in not only every game, but also on every play. The sky is the limit for a team stacked with talent from top to bottom.
“Our slogan this year is to ‘Empty the Tank’, and our focus is to give it our all–win, lose, or draw,” says Piper. “We want to always outwork the opposition. The depth we have on this team is remarkable. Our work ethic will help us go far. I want to go out with a bang and live my last year as my best year ever.”