The Game Change: Soccer ft. Tupelo Golden Wave

Soccer is another winter sport that had to wait all summer and fall long to get to their season.

Now the season is a week away and they're trying to do the little things so that they can save their season

High schools.

Now we move to futbol.

I went out to tupelo high school and put my defensive skills to the test as i take a look at how the coronavirus has changed the sport of soccer.

(matt) soccer is another winter sport that had to wait all summer and fall long to get to their season.

Now their season is a week away and they're trying to do the little things about the coronavirus so that they can save their season.just like i'm about to save this penalty kick.

(dramatic music) give me your best shot izzie.

(izzie makes shot) man, the pros make it look so easy, i'll get you next time, this is the game change.

(track) not only is izzy boyd is an ace penalty taker, she's also a senior on the soccer team.

For her and her teammates, the season has been a tad stressful.

(izzy) i was nervous, i mean obviously senior year i want to play my i was nervous, i mean obviously senior year i want to play my i was nervous, i mean obviously senior year i want to play my last year and we didn't know in the beginning if we were going to have a season or not, people were saying other things but we're really thankful that we're playing this year.

(track) fellow senior madison copeland, they've learned from other sports, that in order to have a season, they have to make sacrifices.

(madison) a lot more players have been staying at home and not going out as much because if anyone gets it then we all have to quarantine and we don't want to lose our season.

(track) the tupelo girls soccer team experienced firsthand that the virus can strike at any time.

A handful of senior players are currently in contact tracing protocol because they were on a truck during the homecoming parade with a student who tested positive for the virus.

(madison) they're sad they can't be here but we're happy that so far none of them have contracted it.

(track) according to head coach diane rulewicz, the rest of the team didn't have to quarantine since the event didn't happen at practice and they went into contract tracing protocol prior to practicing with the team again, but it was a wake up call for the team.

(diane) i just reiterated the fact yesterday, we're an all or none situation because we don't play offense in one group and defense in one group we're all playing together all the time and so it's important that they understand that their extra- curricular activities can affect this team.

(track) unlike football, where a team could miss one or two games while in quarantine, a soccer team could a bunch of games if they catch a positive case.

(diane) when i'm trying to plan games and trying to plan who we're going to get to play and who's going to play um yeah there's been a lot of anxiety because if we miss 14 days we're missing 5 games, so that's a little bit stressful.

Next week, i'll head back indoors for a sport that is growing in popularity next week, i'll head back indoors for a sport that is growing in popularity state-wide: powerlifting.