A hard working, rising star from Lake Jackson, Texas, Mackenzie Bell, has stepped onto ULM’s campus and become a leader for the soccer team in her first year.
A freshman kinesiology-sports medicine major, Bell had the opportunity to play club soccer in high school and says it really helped make her who she is today.
“I played club soccer two hours away from me, so it was four hours roundtrip. I enjoyed it. I loved my coach and he gave me a lot of exposure to colleges” Bell said.
The exposure to colleges helped Bell choose ULM for her collegiate career. “
This was my main school I was wanting to go to. I liked the environment whenever I took my official visit and the team was very welcoming.”
However, it was a tough transition for Bell. “It was difficult at first. You have to set a routine for yourself. The pre-season was rough. It was mentally challenging.”
Bell’s biggest supporter, her mom, was a big reason she was able to get through the pre-season.
“I would just call and talk to her. She’d let me know it was all going to be okay.”
The team has been competitive this season, but had a couple of shortcomings. However, Bell knows they can get it done. “We’re working hard in practices. We just have to finish. Put the ball in the back of the net. We’re really good, we just have to learn how to connect better.”
Being able to work together on the field starts with being able to have a good relationship in the locker room. And the team has just that.
“We all like to get hype together. We like to scream music at the top of our lungs in the locker room.”
But Bell knows there are always things she can work on.
“I feel like I work with the girls really well, and I feel like I have a good pace to get around the defense, but I can do a better job of seeing passes before hand and making my runs earlier. And I definitely feel like I have to score.”
After college, Bell has some large aspirations. “I’m thinking of sports therapy, but I’m not really sure yet. But I want to travel too. Definitely want to find a job and travel.”
With a young team and a determined leader like Bell, ULM soccer looks to have quite an incredible future.