Seniors Samantha Bland and Colleen Kordan lead the BG women’s soccer team as co-captains for the 2009-2010 season.

Both players play center back and want to win badly. However, like every good team, it’s what an individual brings that makes up a team. And with these two players, it’s no different.

Samantha Bland is a dietetics major who aspires to be a dietitian. She wants to ontain an internship upon graduation, then pursue a master’s degree in exercise physiology.

Kordan, a Strongsville native, is at the other end of the spectrum, majoring in business marketing. She hopes to get an internship and eventually work in sales.

Bland and Kordan have high hopes for the future, after they graduate and are done with BG soccer. For now, they’re focused on winning the Mid-American Conference championship and having a successful season.

‘[We want to] beat Toledo because they beat us every year in the [MAC] Tourney,’ Bland said.

Kordan’s season goal was more personal.

‘[I want] to make an impact senior year,’ Kordan said.

These are only some of the goals they have set for themselves and for the team. Bland also mentioned beating their shutout record again this year, and both of them agreed that the most important thing is winning the MAC.

Both said they have had so many opportunities and great moments through the years of playing at BG that it is tough to single out favorite moments, but Bland and Kordan each shared a few.

The final game of last season, when BG traveled to Toledo, will always stick in her mind, Kordan said. With only a couple of minutes left and down 1-0, BG rallied to score two goals and win.

Bland remembered how she scored the tying goal off a corner kick against Eastern Michigan with only two minutes left.

Coach Andy Richards has coached both players throughout their collegiate careers and has also contributed to their experiences.

‘He pushes you as a player and as an individual,’ Kordan said.

But she said he isn’t just likable because he aspires to make each player the best they can be.

‘I like Andy ‘hellip; He gets after you when he needs to be, but he’s funny too,’ Bland said.

With high expectations both on and off the field, this year’s team motto is fitting.

‘Kill or be killed,’ Bland said, laughing.

The senior also added a BG athletic favorite, ‘Roll along.’