Junior Sara Brandt making huge impact for Mendham Minutemen girls soccer
MENDHAM, N.J. — Junior Sara Brandt continues to make an impact on this Minutemen girls varsity soccer squad. She鈥檚 played a pivotal role throughout the 2021 season and has a bit of a clutch gene many teams and scouts may not have noticed. Brandt has improved dramatically from her sophomore season to her junior year. She has three more goals and two more assists and 13 overall points better compared to her sophomore year where she scored zero points total, .
Brandt comes from a large family, she had multiple older siblings that were athletic and active. She grew up watching them play soccer and grew an interest around the age of 5. She eventually began to play competitively around the ages of 7 and 8 for her town’s club team. She played alongside the likes of Sonja Zeepvat and several other teammates she currently plays besides now.
鈥淪o in the offseason, I definitely worked on my strength and fitness and I worked on my shots to build up my confidence,鈥� Brandt said. 鈥淚 always keep a ball near me, without good footwork I can鈥檛 do well.鈥�
Brandt鈥檚 most memorable moments of this season
Her favorite game she has played in thus far was the Chatham game earlier this season. They often play the Cougars very close. This game was nothing short of exciting and very close as well. Brandt, with five minutes remaining in the game, tied the ballgame with a clutch shot to send into overtime. The Minutemen later pulled the game out, but the confidence and excitement it provide her for she said until this day she鈥檚 had a hard time replicating that rush.
Although, her personal favorite game was against the Chatham Cougars, turns out that she believes the most meaningful and impactful game was Montclair. Like Zeepvat and head coach Sean Goldsworthy, she believes the most impactful or turning point of the season was beating undefeated Montclair. She emphasized how the win helped build the team morale and chemistry to another level.
When asked what helps her and the Minutmen team turn it on, she responded:
鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing specific that triggers that next level, however it鈥檚 just like an understood thing amongst the girls. We just know when its time and we trust and believe in one another’s decisions during the game.鈥�
Brandt鈥檚 role of becoming leader
There are nine seniors and four captains currently on this Minutemen鈥檚 team. However, everyone has a leadership role and is forced to step up in one way another. She believes the relationship with Goldsworthy and her teammates has helped her elevate into levels she鈥檚 never thought she could reach. Brandt鈥檚 taken pride in being close to the younger girls on the team and being someone to have set an example for the younger generation to build upon once she leaves Mendham.
鈥淗e鈥檚 overall an amazing coach he鈥檚 easy to talk about soccer and non-soccer topics,鈥� Brandt said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 great support system and great role model for the girls and I.鈥�
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