The North Thurston High School girls’ soccer team has been practicing for a little more than a week and Madison Vu is on the verge of losing her voice.
Place the blame on a late summer sore throat for the ailment.
In prior years, this wouldn’t have mattered much. Vu didn’t need to say a word during practice. All she needed to do was be a leader by example and play – something she was spectacular at as evidenced by her being named a first-team all-3A South Sound Conference defender last season as a sophomore.
Now as an upperclassman, Vu knows for the Rams to continue their upward trend, she’s going to have to take on more of a vocal role.
While she adds newer responsibilities, one aspect of her playing style will definitely stay the same.
Vu’s game is all about speed – white-hot, burning speed.
Exactly how fast is she? Traditionally a 200- and 400-meter runner in track, she decided to give the 100 a go last year and ended up qualifying for the state meet in the event. She also advanced to state in the aforementioned 200, placing seventh overall. She finished fifth in state in the 400 as a freshman.
While most players possessing such a speedy talent would elect to play on the offense side of the field, Vu has been a defender since she first started playing the sport in seventh grade, and just because she’s not asked to score doesn’t mean she isn’t a playmaker.
There’s hardly a time when Vu isn’t the fastest player on the field regardless of who the Rams are playing. She’s a blur able to close the gap quickly between herself and her opponent.
North Thurston finished 8-8-1 last year after fielding one of the conference’s youngest teams in 2017. The Rams’ roster featured just two seniors and a whole host of freshmen and sophomores.
As expected, the youthful Rams suffered through some early season growing pains as many of them adjusted to high school soccer.
The Rams’ varsity inexperience was exposed at the most inopportune time last year when they saw their season end at districts following a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to Lakes.
Despite the disappointing end to the year, Vu said it will serve the team well this year as last year’s freshmen are now this year’s veterans.
In addition to Vu, the Rams also welcome back second-team all-conference picks in senior defender Michelle Hyland, junior midfielder Abby Tait, sophomore forward Annie Hoffman, and sophomore defender Kendell Budd, and honorable mention recipients in senior forward Olivia Warnick and sophomore midfielders Cirena Adams an Helene Budd.