Heather O’Reilly and the University of North Carolina Tar Heels’ run to the 2006 NCAA College Cup Championship provide a perfect example of the impact senior leadership can have on a team.
The 2006 Tar Heels were a very young team in stark contrast to the 2005 version, which was loaded with senior talent and leadership. When the second half of the College Cup final began, there were seven freshmen on the field. O’Reilly was no longer the young pup playing alongside veterans Lindsay Tarpley, Lori Chalupny, Kendall Fletcher, and Kacey White. She was the veteran charged with leading the team.