'She puts in the work when nobody is watching': Solon's Rose McAtee flourishes in soccer

It’s the early hours before school, and Solon junior Rose McAtee starts her day by feeding her sheep and cattle while making sure their living area is clean.

McAtee lives a demanding yet rewarding farm life and carries that everyday grind over to soccer, a sport that’s been a part of her life ever since she could walk.

“You always have to show up; there’s no off days living on a farm. If you don’t show up, something doesn’t get fed. I try to take that aspect into soccer,” McAtee said. “If I don’t show up, then I’m letting my team down. I’m not there for my teammates and so that’s where I kind of connect those two.”

McAtee, the only girl among four siblings, was introduced to competition by playing soccer with her three brothers. In fourth grade, she started competing in a co-ed league for Solon FC. She said competing with boys instilled toughness in her that she still possesses today.

“You got to be physical if you want the ball,” McAtee said. “Playing co-ed, the boys are going to try to shove you around, but you just got to shove right back and kind of put them in their place.”

A couple of years later, McAtee joined the Solon girls soccer varsity team and started as a freshman, playing against more experienced players. She admitted it was a time when she was trying to figure out her place on the field. Support from coach Amanda Paulson and her teammates, who she met prior to high school, made the first-year varsity experience smoother.

McAtee, a forward, gained more confidence as the season progressed. As a freshman, she earned the second-most goals (12) and two assists. She carried that momentum over to her sophomore year, where she scored nine goals and one assist.

She was named to the WaMaC East Division all-conference second team as a freshman. A year later, she earned the WaMaC Recognition Award as a sophomore.

McAtee’s productivity isn't a fluke; it's the direct result of the extra work that she puts into soccer. From asking for feedback and advice to working on her conditioning and footwork in her free time, she relies on different ways to improve.

In the fall, she competes in cross country to stay in shape for soccer. On weekends, McAtee and her younger brother dedicate one hour to sharpening their skills. They set a timer and practice penalty kicks, with McAtee as striker and her brother as goalie.

“I always say, ‘I got to get three in a row, if I don’t get three in a row, we can't leave,’ so sometimes I get (it) just like that and sometimes it takes 45 minutes to be honest, but we sit there and we keep working at it,” McAtee said. “Just having each other to motivate and push each other is huge, so spending a lot of time on the field and getting extra touches on the ball is a huge help.”

Paulson said McAtee possesses a driven mindset. It's an approach that she said she's had ever since her Solon FC playing days.

“What makes Rose so special is she has this head-down-and-grind attitude. She’s the quietest one on the team,” Paulson said. “She puts in the work when nobody is watching and is through and through a leader just by example in work ethic.”

A physical player who isn’t afraid to challenge someone half her size, McAtee has become more comfortable making plays with the ball at her feet, which is attributed to the time she dedicates in the offseason.

McAtee has started in every match for the Spartans since her freshman year and believes experience has helped her confidence flourish.

“I used to be scared to go 1v1 with someone, but having experience on the field, I feel confident enough to go 1v1 with an opponent,” McAtee said. “I’ve also learned to play with the ball at my feet and if I need to, I know I can dribble around someone. Having those skills have helped build my confidence.”

McAtee is soft-spoken on the field, but her actions speak louder than her words. Solon midfielder Gabby Knipper believes McAtee sets the example of what a leader should be.

“She is an upperclassman now, so she’s working hard and showing the underclassman like, ‘This is what we’re supposed to do,’” Knipper said. “Her work ethic is top notch ... you can be a leader without being the one that talks so I feel like she really demonstrates that with her hard work and just portrays that.”

Solon girls soccer has had three straight 10-plus win seasons and is set on advancing further in the postseason after coming up short in regional competition throughout that span. McAtee believes it starts by having a more vocal presence on the field and becoming a more reliable player who gets her teammates involved. With her dedication to improvement, she also hopes to reach double digits in goals this season.

McAtee's strong work ethic that helps her thrive in soccer is directly linked to the time spent living on a farm.

“I’m used to getting up early in the morning for chores and then coming home late at night after practices or games to feed animals, so I think building that work ethic from the farm and then putting that onto the field has been a huge help and kind of made me the player who I am."

This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Rose McAtee is an unspoken leader for Solon girls soccer