The Lady Raiders have started strong this soccer season, and goalkeeper Holly Eddins has been a key contributor. Eddins’ play has helped the 2-1 Lady Raiders allow just three goals, while scoring 17.
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What’s the key to such a good start?
I think it’s just the bond of the team, all together, connecting as a whole. Instead of just going out there to play for fun, we’re playing as a team. Not as an individual.
What keeps you all so close together?
Every single day, we bond and we come together, we laugh and we have a good time while we get the work done.
How’s the adjustment to the new head coach?
The adjustment’s been kind of tough. We had a male coach, and adjusting to a female coach is kind of different. But it’s also a little better in some sense, because we connect more throughout the training.
What’s been your favorite moment as a Lady Raider?
Losing together as a team, as odd as it may sound. Winning together, it’s great, but losing together, you get this strong aspect out of each individual. You overcome things you never knew you could overcome as a team.
Where would you like to go to college?
University of North Florida.
What would you major in?
I want to be a physical therapist.
What’s this team capable of?
I think things are going to go really well. We’ve been off to a great start. Hopefully, we’re probably going to win districts and advance into the championships. We’re going to go high.
What’s the best pre-game meal?
Zaxby’s. It’s not that healthy, but I usually have Zaxby’s before every game. It’s kind of a tradition.
What famous person would you want to meet?
Abby Wambach, because she’s just so inspirational. I would probably pick up on a lot of her habits, how she changes society and stuff. She’s such an inspiration to young female athletes and people who aren’t even athletes but want to try and do something with their life.
If you had $1 billion, what would you buy?
A (Ford) Mustang. And I’d give a lot of it, a big portion of it, to charity too.
What advice would you give to a girl who is starting to get into soccer?
I would tell them not to give up, and it’s going to be hard to overcome challenges and what people might say that you cannot do. To keep going and be strong at it, and follow your dream.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
Follow your heart. The world’s tough out there, and you’ve got to be you and do what you love.