M M A AT H L ET I C S
Team Players
MMA's soccer program builds a winning mindset, on and off the field.
By all accounts, the soccer program at Missouri Military Academy is a great success. In just 37 years, MMA soccer has built an impressive legacy, compiling a record of 414 wins to 176 losses, winning 11 district titles — most recently in 2018 — and placing fourth in Missouri state competition in 1992. But according to head varsity soccer coach Liam Collins, the primary goal of MMA soccer isn’t winning every game — it’s about imparting the values of sportsmanship, commitment to hard work, and the grit and determination to push onward that cadets learn as members of a team. “I want my players to have fun, but I also want them to understand that working hard and working together as a team can help you overcome many challenges,” says Collins, a former NCAA Division I soccer player at the University of Memphis. “When players buy in and commit wholeheartedly as a team, the wins will occur naturally — and the same is true in life. If they can apply these lessons from soccer to their overall lives, then I have achieved my objective as an MMA coach.”
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The Eagle
Cadet Bruno Pozzani, captain of the 2019-20 soccer team, attests to Collins’ philosophy of character and team development through the sport. When the team steps onto the field, the senior says, it’s not about individual achievement, but rather about brotherhood and hard work. “The team is my favorite part about playing soccer because we learn that soccer is not what is on the line,” Pozzani says. “Our brotherhood — the people beside you — are the ones who are going to take care of you, and it’s our responsibility to do the same for them. This mindset makes the bond between the players unbreakable.” Looking ahead to life after graduation, Pozzani says he plans to use what he has learned on the soccer field as he works toward an international business career.
“[Soccer helped me grow] as a teammate and a leader,” he says. “The game taught me to work as a team to outperform the other side. As a leader, it taught me that when tough times come, someone needs to step up. This can mean playing harder, communicating better or getting more focused. It taught me about stepping up and doing my part to improve the team.” As a reflection of MMA’s values, soccer serves as yet another pillar of cadets’ education and experience at the academy. From the field to postgraduate education and careers, teammates learn one of life’s most valuable lessons — how to reach the goal. Cadet Robert Abbott drives down Colonels Field.
