WSOC : After intense offseason, Bellingham leads SU in goals
The packet given to Megan Bellingham by her coaches told her everything she needed to know. It contained a workout regiment, designed specifically for the Syracuse sophomore forward to help build on her freshman season.
Bellingham’s workout required her to run for 90 to 120 minutes one day, and then work on speed and agility the next. There were no SU women’s soccer coaches to give her directions or teammates to sweat it out with her. She would have to do this training on her own.
‘We’re obviously together all spring working out,’ Bellingham said. ‘That’s the hardest part – you have to push yourself, there’s no one sitting there with a stop watch you have to do it yourself.’
That toil has paid off so far. In eight games, Bellingham has emerged as Syracuse’s top scoring threat. She has tallied six of the team’s 11 goals, placing her third in the Big East in goals scored. Bellingham also is first in the conference in shots with 39.
‘She’s one of the best forwards I’ve ever worked with,’ senior defender Sarah VanSickle said. ‘She has an amazing shot. When I’m playing with her and she’s about to rip a shot, you get a little nervous.’
Bellingham was only one of three freshmen to play in all 19 games last season. But she said she needed to improve her fitness to be able to play an entire game.
The grueling workouts were a testament to Bellingham’s determination to become more physically fit and have a greater contribution to the team in her sophomore year. The hard work paid off when she scored the first goal of the season one minute and 30 seconds into the Orange’s season opener against Albany on Aug. 22.
It has only gotten better since then. Bellingham has scored a goal in every game the Orange (3-3-2) has won and has at least one goal in five of the team’s eight games this season.
‘Obviously I’m more comfortable and familiar with the level of play and the conference we play in,’ Bellingham said. ‘Another big difference is the change in our system. It’s a system I feel really comfortable in, and I think it’s working in everyone’s benefit so far.’
The Orange has taken a new approach this season with a more offensive-minded formation that has benefited Bellingham’s play. SU head coach Phil Wheddon has said the team works to be more aggressive up the middle by playing off Bellingham – who is usually the Syracuse’s lone forward. This in turn creates more possession and goal-scoring opportunities.
‘Being the lone forward at times on our formations a lot of it is directed towards her,’ VanSickle said. ‘We need her to get that ball and hold it but then as a team we all work together to get to the finished product. She’s got to lay it off and get the ball back again, but she is a huge force up there that helps us.’
Bellingham doesn’t like to give herself too much credit. The sophomore said she’s just filling her role.
‘Being a forward that’s your job to score,’ Bellingham said. ‘I just look at it as you’re doing your job same thing with Eliza, she’s got so many shutouts. I think as individuals on the field you need to focus on what you need to do to make the team most successful. That’s part of the mentality that most of our team is taking on.’
As the rest of the season unfolds, VanSickle, a co-captain, looks forward to watching Bellingham’s play against the Big East. A few more goals from her might help SU to reach its long-term goal of the Big East Tournament.
‘She’s only a sophomore so she has two more years,’ VanSickle said. ‘She’s already amazing on our team, she scoring more goals than anyone, and she has so much more potential especially with Phil coming in, I definitely admire that. I think watching her over the next two years is going to be great.’
