-- Victoria Smith, wmubroncos.com contributing writer

KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Established in 1996, Bronco women's soccer is still a fairly new sport at Western Michigan University, relative to other female programs which began in the early 1970's. While the beginning of the program had its years of success, including the school's first ever Mid-American Conference championship in 2003, WMU women's soccer has found a level of consistency and prominence over the last 10 years that is unmatched. The Broncos have played in the MAC Tournament championship game in five of the last six years and have won titles in two of the last three seasons.

What might be most impressive is the process through which the program has grown and developed under three head coaches during that time. The changes at the helm were a result of the success itself and the identity of winning and stability have been kept in tact by promoting coaches from within.

A former assistant under Mike Haines, Suzie Grech was promoted to be the face of women's soccer in 2009 and led Western Michigan to the championship game of the MAC Tournament in back-to-back seasons for the first time in school history in 2010 and 2011. Nate Norman was an assistant under Grech for the 2010 run and when Grech departed WMU for the University of Houston in 2013, Norman was called on to take the reigns.

Norman's first hire was current Western Michigan head coach Lauren Sinacola, who had just wrapped up a stellar All-Big Ten career at Michigan State. Sinacola honed her skills as a head coach under Norman, where the two led Western Michigan to the MAC Tournament title game in each of the last three seasons, bringing the championship home to Kalamazoo in 2013 and 2015. 

With the success followed suitors, and Norman stepped away to take another coaching opportunity this past spring, knowing full well that the program was left in good hands. Like the two head coaches before her, Sinacola rose to the challenge, ready and eager to continue the winning tradition.

Studying under Norman and helping develop the current culture and mentality of the program, Sinacola believes aids heavily in the Broncos' success. Norman introduced three areas of focus for the team: academics, ultra-competitiveness and selflessness.

 "If you focus on the right areas, success will come," Sinacola said. "It allows you to get the right student-athletes in your program that fit the culture and bring in recruits that want that type of environment."

At 27 years old, the age gap between Sinacola and her players is less than 10 years. Sinacola feels this works to her advantage, as she is able to relate to her players and the players can relate to her. Sinacola understands the commitment level of a Division I athlete, as she was a four-year starter at Michigan State where she earned First Team All-Big Ten honors and helped the Spartans advance to two NCAA Tournament appearances.

Sinacola's experience as a player and a coach leads her to constantly ask the questions: "How can I push our players? How can I help our team grow?" Being a former student-athlete herself, she understands what it takes to compete at a high level, which players respond to.

Entering this season and following last year's MAC Tournament championship, Sinacola inherited a team that lost seven seniors, five of which were starters, and added nine freshmen to the roster. Despite the turnover, the Broncos got off to a 7-3-0 record in 2016, one of the best starts in program history.

"It's been a transition, but everyone has been ready to step up and is willing to work hard to fill the shoes we lost," said senior team captain Liz Abro.

"I'm happy with it, but we know there is always room for improvement," says Sinacola regarding the team's record. "Obviously losing isn't an easy thing, and I think this group has done a very good job bouncing back after losses."

The current seniors on the team were freshmen during Sinacola's first year as an assistant coach at WMU and she believes that class bought in most to the team philosophy of selflessness. Even with the coaching transition, the class remained committed to being servant leaders.

"They're just great people which is great to have on your side especially as a new head coach," Sinacola said.

The bond on and off the field is important to any team and one Sinacola believes is strong at Western Michigan. In her four years of coaching, the coaching staff has never had to call two girls into the office to hash out an issue, a true testament to the team's culture of selflessness.

"I'm not saying it's always rainbows and butterflies, but our players and our leaders have been great about working out problems themselves. They hold each other accountable," said Sinacola.

Selflessness goes hand-in-hand with another focus of the team, competitiveness, and finding the balance of the two is essential. Sinacola gives the example of two girls competing for the same starting position.

"The players battle head-to-head for starting positions and playing time everyday," Sinacola said. "If another player wins it over you, you still have to support her and push the team to be better and not be selfish with the decision the coaches make. The girls being friends not only on the field, but off helps a lot."

When asked about how the team manages through these types of situations, Abro made the same point. Off the field the girls are genuine friends and have fun together.

"I think that's why we win so much," Abro said. "We play for each other, we don't just come to soccer to play the sport, we're coming for the friendships and the time we have together."