Eastern Michigan’s soccer team has seen better days.
The Eagles (0-8-1, 0-2 Mid-American Conference) are on an eight-game losing streak and could use a victory on the field. The losses have added up for Coach Scott Hall’s young team on the field, but it’s an off-the-field loss that has the team’s head down.
Prior to this season, Scott had seen senior Julie Kaim make big plays in big games. He had seen her win individual awards such as All-MAC first team, All-MAC second team and All MAC-Freshman Team. He had seen her kiss sophomore Allison Kaim, Julie’s younger sister, on the forehead for her first collegiate game as an Eagle. Scott had seen Julie mature as a player and as a person.
“She is an outspoken person,” Scott said. “She is a passionate person that wears her heart on her sleeve. She’s a Chicago kid that tells everything like it is. She is a defender for our team, a leader, our strength.”
The losses on the field have to be hard for a coach, but a loss of one of the team’s biggest fans has to be an even harder pill to swallow. On Sept. 1, Scott saw the strength of his team depart for a flight back home to Chicago.
“Julie started every single game before her mom got sick,” Scott said. “Her mother came to almost every game. She was a great fan for the team. When we lost her, she had
a profound impact on the team.”
Julie and Allison’s mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in November of 2009, when Allison was a senior in high school. It was Julie’s sophomore season as an Eagle.
Cheryl Kaim is survived by her husband, John, and three daughters: Brittany, Julie Rose and Allison.
“It was really hard for Julie,” Allison said. “She would show emotion, but she showed more logical reasoning. Since I was the younger one, it was Julie that was the decision-maker.”
She said Julie would decide when it was time for them to travel back to Chicago and when it was time to stay put.
Allison said having Julie around has helped her out.
“She is always willing to listen to me and other teammates,” Allison said. “She is a good listener. It’s been great having her around. Flights home to Chicago weren’t so lonely; we had each other to fly together.”
Scott said the sisters were gone 16-19 days this season.
“Young teams look for a leader,” Scott said. “Julie is one. It has been a struggle for us. Julie and Allison have lived with this for two years now. For them to have the strength to train, I don’t know if I can be that strong.”
For Julie, family is very important and being there for her sister is equally as important.
Julie said when her mother was first diagnosed with cancer she went to the hospital and wrote a note on the door of her mother’s room that said “Kaims never lose.”
“We will stand strong, we will be the people that will always win no matter what obstacles come our way,” Julie said.
“I’ve realized that every day is a gift. She is watching me. As hard as it gets, her not physically being there, she is watching. We just got to be here to make her proud.”
Allison said, “It’s been hard. No one can really tell you how hard it is unless you’ve really gone through it yourself.”
Julie said her mother would send out “good morning” texts and phone calls, telling them to have a good day at school. Julie has taken over this duty for her younger sister.
“It’s not something I need to do, but I enjoy doing it,” Julie said. “I want to let her know that I’m here for her on her good days and her bad days. I appreciate her and love it every day I am able to be with her.”
Allison describes her relationship with her older sister with one word: inseparable.
“Even when we are apart we are keeping in touch, either through texting or over the phone,” she said.
Although off the field these girls are extremely close, competition runs through their veins. Their parents were athletes in high school. Their father, John Kaim, played baseball at St. Xavier from 1979-83, and their oldest sister currently plays soccer at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.
Scott said their competitive spirit comes out on the soccer field.
“Within practice, they will knock the snot out of each other,” he said. “They work hard, battle against each other, and then walk off the field with an arm around each other.”
Allison said on the field, Julie is constantly talking. “Her energy, her drive picks up the energy of the entire team. She is never negative; I’ve never seen her put her head down. She loves to tackle and enjoys headers.”
Scott has seen his players endure growing pains this season, but remains optimistic.
“Our confidence is down,” Scott said. “But I still expect the same. Show up every day, make sure we get into the playoffs and get everyone on the same page.”
The Eagles’ next game will be against Kent State at 4 p.m. Friday at Scicluna Field. They will be sporting wristbands with the letters “CK” in remembrance of their late, great fan, Cheryl Kaim.
