Jacks In The WPSL: Annie Williams

As the 2018 soccer season approaches, GoJacks.com spoke with six Jackrabbits who spent their summers playing in the Women's Premier Soccer League around the region. This six-part series will run for two weeks leading up to the team's report date of August 1. ---------- Annie Williams went from earning Defensive Player of the Week and Year awards in the Summit League to earning Player of the Week honors in the Women's Premier League (WPSL) this summer. The reigning Summit League Defensive Player of the Year was named one of the WPSL Players of the Week for the North Conference (Central Region) on May 31. She netted one of the two goals for her team, Fire SC 98 in Minneapolis, Minn., in the season-opening weekend draw against the Milwaukee Torrent.  She was one of seven athletes to be named athlete of the week in the WPSL. "It was an honor to make player of the week on the first week," Williams said. "Especially after seeing two great team efforts to get results in our first week of league play." Aside from the Player of the Week award, Williams says the season was great even though it was a new experience for her. "I had a great summer with the Fire 98 SC," Williams said "It was a new experience for me and so I came in not knowing what to expect. We usually played two weekend games and practiced twice a week so it was a really great and fun opportunity to improve my game." Williams had a different perspective on the games and practices than the other Jacks in the WPSL. Instead of seeing a difference between SDSU and the WPSL, she thought the two seasons were similar to each other. 

Instead of being very different Williams thought it was kind of similar to the Fall season at SDSU. "The game schedule is very similar to our SDSU game schedule," Williams said. "We would usually have games that were on Fridays and Sundays just like at State. Every game and every point counts to help us in our conference just like back at SDSU." Williams enjoyed playing with the several great soccer players that were on the team from all across the country. "I got to play with so many great soccer players who work extremely hard to be where they are in their careers today," Williams said. "I think anytime you are consistently playing with and against players who are always striving to get to that next level, you are consistently learning and improving small parts of your game." She also thought the coaches did a great job of helping the players improve on their play. "My coaches really cultivated the environment," Williams said. "They encouraged every single player to play to the best of her ability and to continue to improve and play with confidence." Before Williams came to Brookings, she played in club soccer so she's had experience playing with some of the players. "I have actually played with a handful of girls in club before we got to college and it was great to play with them again," Williams said. "I also loved meeting and playing with the rest of the players. I really think that each player brought something special to the team and the way we were able to come together in our first year as a club showed in the results of our league play." After all the awards Williams has earned, she is still looking at things to improve in her game before her senior year starts with the Jackrabbits. "This summer especially, I have been working on my first touch," Williams said. "I want to try to be more proactive with it so that I can help us keep the ball more and play quicker." With fall camp approaching and the WPSL season over, Williams is excited to be back in Brookings. "I am very excited to come back and start my senior season at SDSU," Williams said. "I feel that playing in the WPSL has really helped me come into the season with momentum and energy." The Jackrabbits return to campus for fall camp Aug. 1 and will open the season with an exhibition at Minnesota on Aug. 11. Single-match tickets and a limited number of season ticket packages are on sale now through the Jackrabbit Ticket Office. Tickets can be purchased in person, online at JackrabbitTickets.com or over the phone by calling (605) 688-5422. Part five of the series features Allie Zueger, and will be available on Friday. Read past features below: Part one: Bianca Madonia (Wednesday, July 18) Part two: Maggie Smither (Friday, July 20) Part three: Eleanor Dick (Monday, July 23)