Valparaiso junior midfielder Ava Brubaker feels more in control this season.
Expanding her leadership presence off the field as a team captain and putting in countless reps to sharpen her ballhandling, Brubaker has changed how she approaches the game.
“It’s definitely pushed me to think about the way I play and be more proactive instead of reactive,” she said. “It’s made me focus on what’s happening around me so I can try and find space to get open and get the ball at my feet.”
That mindset shift has paid dividends for Brubaker, who has three goals and two assists through eight games for Duneland Athletic Conference leader Valparaiso (5-1-2, 4-0). The Vikings, who had just seven wins last season, are riding a six-game unbeaten streak.
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“It’s been a really good start for both me and my team,” Brubaker said. “I think the practices have been good. We’ve all been putting in a lot of work, and I think that shows in how our games have gone. It’s been a really good time this season.
“We’re all getting along, and it’s always nice to get along with everyone.”
Brubaker, who played sparingly last season, said her transition to the starting lineup has been made easier by the presence of teammates she has known since they were kids. Brubaker was 6 years old when she and senior defender Diana Cespedes began playing together.
“She’s very outgoing,” Diana Cespedes said. “When you first meet her, she’s kind of quiet. But the second time you talk to her, she’s open. I feel like she clicks with everyone. Everyone gets along with her.
“Growing up, she made our team one of the best club experiences we could have had.”
Diana Cespedes is the daughter of Valparaiso coach Rob Cespedes, who has watched Brubaker grow into a special player.
“I’ve certainly seen her develop her foot skills and ball skills throughout those years,” Rob Cespedes said. “When she got older, it seemed like things really started to come together for her.
“She’s an intelligent girl — and a smart girl academically — but she’s very smart when it comes to common sense as well, just thinking about how things should be and what they should look like. Having that vision is a great thing for a center midfielder. Throughout the years, she’s continued to grow in those aspects, and this year is really like a culminating year. You really see some great stuff from her. She’s very hardworking, which certainly helps with her improvement.”
Brubaker’s progress has fueled her confidence, which she said she lacked two years ago.
“Coming into high school playing with all these older girls, you’re kind of nervous,” she said. “But as I’ve grown, I’ve become more confident in myself and my skills to be able to go out and do whatever I can to win.”
Rob Cespedes thinks the Vikings have the ability to keep on winning but wants Brubaker and her teammates to focus on what they can control.
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“We have a lot of potential,” he said. “I think the girls, with their ability and their camaraderie, there’s a lot of potential for them to go very far, and as long as we continue to encourage those things and they continue to encourage each other, the possibilities are endless.”
Noah Poser is a freelance reporter.