Latest / Into the Channel ⚽️ A Podcast Primarily About Women's Football / Cori Dyke of the Orlando Pride joins the show
Transcript
- 0:03OK. Welcome to a special edition, a
- 0:07playoff edition, a championship edition of Into the Channel
- 0:11podcast primarily about women's football.
- 0:13I'm your host Dino de Cespedes and today we are joined by a
- 0:15special guest as well as my Co host Mr. Grant Engel.
- 0:19What is up man? I'm feeling great, buddy.
- 0:21And part of the reason I'm feeling great is because our
- 0:23guest today has navigated a high end footballing journey in the
- 0:27United States, which has taken her from the elite Colorado Rush
- 0:30Academy all the way to Happy Valley where she was a stalwart
- 0:33for Penn State University as they won conference
- 0:36championships. And she became the all time
- 0:38leader in appearances for the Nittany Lions in a rookie
- 0:41season. In the NWSL, she's played a
- 0:43significant role as part of the league's best defense, leading
- 0:46to the Orlando Pride triumphantly lifting the NWSL
- 0:49shield. It's an honor and a privilege to
- 0:51welcome to the show Corey Dyke. Thank you.
- 0:54Excited to be here guys and thank you for that awesome
- 0:56intro. No worries, you earned it.
- 0:59Oh, thank you. I appreciate it.
- 1:01Corey, I want to kick us off. So you've obviously started the
- 1:04Pride's final ten matches after appearing in 11 of the 1st 16.
- 1:08Can you talk about what it took from you personally like as a
- 1:11player to grow into that role? Like a big time role on a big
- 1:14time defense, as Grant mentioned, performing at an
- 1:17absolute historic clip. Well, I always have to start, I
- 1:20think, with Penn State. I think my coaches there and
- 1:24what I learned there throughout my five seasons there really
- 1:28prepared me well to step into this environment.
- 1:31Unfortunately, coming into preseason, I suffered an injury
- 1:34and was unable to train the majority of preseason, which I
- 1:38think kind of pushed me back farther than I would have liked.
- 1:41Had to overcome some adversity, but I think it was just a belief
- 1:45in myself and the foundation that I have built up until that
- 1:48point as a soccer player. But also just relying on the
- 1:51people around me in this environment.
- 1:53The belief from my coaches, the belief from my teammates in the
- 1:56amazing training environment that we've created here in
- 1:59Orlando. I think all of that, I think,
- 2:01allowed me to step into that role when the opportunity
- 2:04presented itself. That makes a lot of sense.
- 2:06Like from an outside perspective, Dino and I
- 2:09throughout the season have talked about there is just a an
- 2:12energy that is like exuding from the club.
- 2:15We're big Seb Heinz fans over here.
- 2:18And it just seems like your team, no matter who is kind of
- 2:21being rotated in and out, who's on the pitch at any given time
- 2:25that you guys really, I know it's kind of a sports cliche,
- 2:27but like you really play for each other.
- 2:29How does that feel like in the locker room for you guys?
- 2:32No, I mean, we really do. And it's, it's not just a cliche
- 2:36for us. I mean, sometimes I do think
- 2:37people just say that, but we do really feel that I think this
- 2:40culture is something that's really unique and something I've
- 2:43been really blessed to be a part of so far in my rookie year.
- 2:47I really can't have any complaints.
- 2:48It's been incredible. But I do think, you know, Seb is
- 2:51a big part of that, Haley is a big part of that.
- 2:53It all starts from the top down, you know, in terms of building
- 2:55that culture. And then I think it's just a
- 2:57testament to all the girls in the team like really having
- 3:00great attitudes and building each other up, holding each
- 3:02other accountable, all those things to create that intense
- 3:05supportive trading environment that allows all those different
- 3:08people to step onto the field when necessary.
- 3:11Very cool. Corey, you talked about your
- 3:13your background at Penn State. Obviously Nittany Lions littered
- 3:16throughout the last few drafts, you know, so that's got to be
- 3:18pretty cool. You know, Ali Schlegel you'll
- 3:21probably be seeing in a couple. Oh yeah.
- 3:24We've we've talked, we've talked, yeah.
- 3:26Do you guys have like a Nittany Lions group text?
- 3:28And if so, like what's the vibe? Is it funny?
- 3:30Is it serious? Is it compelling, You know?
- 3:33We should. I don't know why that doesn't
- 3:34exist, but it should exist. So maybe after this combo I'll
- 3:38go start that. But we are a great like tight
- 3:41knit group. We really are like Penn State
- 3:44just runs deep. Like we love that school, we
- 3:46love that program, we love our experience there.
- 3:49And I think that carries on into the NWSL.
- 3:51And it's always fun to play against other Penn Staters in
- 3:54the league. So looking forward to going up
- 3:56against Ali Schlegel for sure. She's a great competitor.
- 4:00Great season by her as well. And for sure, you know, thinking
- 4:03about the jump from, you know, college football into this
- 4:08professional setting, was there a moment?
- 4:11And I, I always think about this with like just professional
- 4:15athletes. Is there a moment in the season
- 4:17where a player doesn't move or there's a pass that set and you
- 4:21kind of have to open your eyes and be like, OK, Penn State was
- 4:24really competitive and and we played great teams, but this is
- 4:28a different level up here. Oh yeah, I mean, for me, that's
- 4:30every single day training with Marta.
- 4:34It. I'm yeah, I'm reminded of it
- 4:36everyday. It like she'll do something
- 4:38incredible. And it's like, that's why you're
- 4:40the GOAT. And this is, yeah, this is
- 4:42indeed another level. But I mean, in all seriousness
- 4:45too, like the the quality from from everybody, especially on my
- 4:49team, like just everybody, starters, non starters, even how
- 4:52much that has fluctuated throughout the year, I think is
- 4:54just a testament to how how good everyone on this team is.
- 4:58That's really great. Has has there been any kind of a
- 5:01moment or teammate or or coach that you, you're going to kind
- 5:05of like look back at this rookie season?
- 5:06Remember, wow, this. That was a pivotal moment for
- 5:08me, giving me a chunk of wisdom that I think I'm going to carry
- 5:12for the rest of my career. You know, there's not a distinct
- 5:15moment that comes to mind, but I just think it's because I've had
- 5:19so many people, so many veterans like give me encouragement and
- 5:23lift me up throughout my time here, especially early on, that
- 5:26it's hard to pick just one out. But I think because, you know,
- 5:29I've had that happen to me so many times, like that in and of
- 5:31itself is really special. Just the support from those
- 5:34around me and especially those veteran players that have just
- 5:37kind of layered, you know, wisdom of just, you know,
- 5:40enjoying the game. You know, like taking it all in,
- 5:42not letting it get too big, but just remembering, you know, like
- 5:45why you even, you know, started playing in the 1st place and not
- 5:49losing that joy when it becomes your job.
- 5:51You know, like just those things that I've taken away from them,
- 5:54aside from all the soccer knowledge, obviously that they,
- 5:57I've, I've learned from them as well, but it's been pretty
- 5:59special. I think our leadership group
- 6:01here has done a really good job with us rookies and newbies in
- 6:04the league of making us feel welcome and valued.
- 6:07Sure. So you mentioned Marta, the
- 6:09greatest player who ever lived, obviously on your squad.
- 6:12Yes, I will say one of the flash ball moments from this entire
- 6:16season for me is you come under the pitch, you play 20 minutes
- 6:20in that great victory over Kansas City.
- 6:23In Kansas City, you're down to 10 players.
- 6:25The emotions are running high. The final whistle blows.
- 6:29Marta just lets out this, like, Primal Scream.
- 6:32Can you tell me on the heels of that victory, like you're going
- 6:35into the Olympic break, there's just so many things swirling.
- 6:38What are you thinking and like at the end of that match and
- 6:41like immediately following it after a great triumph like that?
- 6:44I I mean, that match was was incredible.
- 6:46That was a fun one, honestly, to be a part of because it was a
- 6:50gritty performance. And I think the team just really
- 6:53rallied around that, you know, against all odds, you know, down
- 6:56a player for a majority of the game away from home against and
- 7:00a very elite offensive team like KC.
- 7:04And to be able to come out of that with a win.
- 7:06Like I think we just like we're so encouraged by that and just
- 7:09so excited. You could see it from from
- 7:11Marta, from her, from her celebrations, but I just thought
- 7:14it was awesome. You know, the passion from the
- 7:16group and just how much we lift did each other up in that moment
- 7:19and I think the energy from that game definitely propelled us
- 7:22forward for for the rest of the season.
- 7:24That's awesome. I want to get into sort of like
- 7:27the rest of the season, as mentioned, 23 straight unbeaten,
- 7:31kind of an unfathomable number. We're thinking about like the
- 7:34how competitive the league is. Did the streak ever get to a
- 7:39point where the pressure kind of started to like, could you feel
- 7:43that this was like something like borderline historic or, or
- 7:47was it just like a wave of elation?
- 7:49And we're just like, we are in the zone right now and all we've
- 7:51got to do is kind of like not break anything.
- 7:54Honestly, I think the majority of the time, like we really just
- 7:58honed in on focusing at one game at a time.
- 8:00And I think that mentality really helped us like day in and
- 8:04day out, not letting it get too big.
- 8:06And I think that's why the streak went as long as it did,
- 8:09because we weren't stressed about losing it.
- 8:12We just wanted to win. And because we showed up and we
- 8:15did our job and we prepared well week in and week out, it's why
- 8:18it kept happening. But I don't think we ever really
- 8:20let the pressure get to us like that.
- 8:22And I think that's another really incredible thing about
- 8:24this group that we were able to kind of keep our heads
- 8:27throughout that whole whole process and block out some of
- 8:29the noise from the media. So you're taking on the Chicago
- 8:32Red Stars. We've mentioned Ali Schlagel.
- 8:36I'm going to lean into my in depth, deep football knowledge
- 8:39here. Mallory Swanson, very awesome as
- 8:42well. Yes, yes, when you.
- 8:45When you when you think about that attack, what do you need to
- 8:49do to be successful against a team like that?
- 8:52Yeah. I mean, you said that they have
- 8:54some very strong offensive threats, and that's the biggest
- 8:58thing that we need to focus on from their end going into the
- 9:00game. Just always being switched on in
- 9:03transition because that's where they thrive.
- 9:05So just defensively, starting from the front all the way to
- 9:08the back line, like just being locked in, not switching off for
- 9:11a single moment because that's where they can hurt you.
- 9:13Setting ourselves up in those good positions to win the ball
- 9:16back as quickly as possible to not allow them to break out.
- 9:19Corey, I know you kind of broke into the starting lineup, you
- 9:23know, sort of later in the season, but the appearances kind
- 9:25of date all the way back. You talked about kind of
- 9:27overcoming that, that early season injury upon the arrival
- 9:30of Barbara Banda. What did that do in terms of
- 9:33like opening things up or what was what was Banda's like
- 9:36biggest impact getting kind of dropped into this team?
- 9:39Yeah, I mean, she's clearly been incredible for us, but I think
- 9:43something maybe that people don't talk about enough beyond
- 9:46just her soccer ability is just her attitude and her willingness
- 9:49to learn and grow. Like I think ever since she's
- 9:51got here, she's had the best attitude and coach ability, and
- 9:55I think that's a huge testament to her.
- 9:57And it's been so awesome to play with her.
- 9:59And I think having her come in to this team, obviously this
- 10:02team already had so many amazing talented players, but she kind
- 10:06of gave us a different look up top, you know, with her speed
- 10:08and her ability to hold the ball up and spin players and all of
- 10:11that. And I think having that weapon
- 10:14added to our arsenal just made us that much better.
- 10:17Does it change anything as a defensive minded player, whether
- 10:21you're playing defensive midfield or and the back line,
- 10:23when you have a superlative talent like that at forward,
- 10:28does does it change your mindset at all?
- 10:29Does it like, does it change the shape of of the pitch or like
- 10:32how? How would you describe that?
- 10:34I mean, not necessarily, but I do think, you know, you you look
- 10:38to to find players like that as much as possible.
- 10:41So I do think as much as we like to play, you know, I think we
- 10:44pride ourselves on playing really good soccer here in
- 10:47Orlando. But I think part that is
- 10:49utilizing the threats that you have.
- 10:51And so I do think we are looking to get her the ball a lot of the
- 10:55time. And I think that that is
- 10:57important and maybe a little bit of a shift that we had
- 10:59throughout the year. But when you have people like
- 11:01Barbs and Marty combining up top, it's a pretty lethal
- 11:05combination along with all the other amazing attackers that we
- 11:08have. But yes, I do think our mindset
- 11:10was to get her involved a lot. And then Corey, to switch back
- 11:13to the defense. You guys were on a historic,
- 11:16historic base at one point. I think you were at like 12 or
- 11:1813 goals allowed for like it felt like three months.
- 11:21Yeah. What is it about this defense,
- 11:23this unit that allowed you to to do that as a team?
- 11:27Like, I mean, I'm just, I'm just extremely curious about with how
- 11:31competitive this league is your unit specifically, what were you
- 11:35able to tap into as a group to make that happen?
- 11:38The biggest thing was just the relationships like with each
- 11:41other on and off the field, but just that that translates into
- 11:44trust on the pitch, you know, and I think that's the biggest
- 11:46thing, you know, the trust in each other that were each
- 11:49individually going to get the job done.
- 11:51But and also that we have the support of the person to our
- 11:53left and to our right to help us out if in case we don't, you
- 11:56know, we're always covering for each other, we're always helping
- 11:58each other out. But I also think, you know,
- 12:00training day in and day out during the week, like we train
- 12:03hard and intense here in Orlando, especially as a
- 12:06defensive group, and we really pride ourselves on that.
- 12:09So I think training that intensity consistently prepares
- 12:12us for game time to do the same. All right, I'm going to get into
- 12:16some questions. Hopefully they're not too
- 12:18controversial maybe and maybe we can go with non Barbara Benda
- 12:23division. Who's the fastest player on your
- 12:26team? Oh, I don't know.
- 12:27I mean, I'm inclined to say Barb's, but probably Ali Watt.
- 12:31Probably Ali Watt after that. Yeah, Girl's got some speed to
- 12:34her. Who's the funniest player on
- 12:38your team? We got some good characters,
- 12:41honestly. You know, MO always finds a way
- 12:44to make me laugh. Morgan Control.
- 12:47She's pretty funny, honestly. Carrie Lawrence always makes me
- 12:50laugh. They're honestly a funny duo,
- 12:52the two of them. Yeah, they get some good laughs
- 12:56out of me a lot. And Ali Watt, too.
- 12:58I'll put her in there. She's she's got a big
- 13:00personality and she's she's always making me laugh too.
- 13:03Last one of the rapid fire Who's the most intense player on your
- 13:06team? That is tough.
- 13:09I mean, when Marta's like got her game face on, like she's
- 13:13intense and her passion for the game is awesome.
- 13:16So she's the first one that pops into mind.
- 13:18But we have a lot of intense girls in the team that it's
- 13:21like, yeah, we mean business when when we're going to work.
- 13:24And you know, I would add Carrie Bella to that too.
- 13:27She's she's a competitor. Yeah, we do have an intense
- 13:30group. I think when it's when it's game
- 13:31time or we're training hard, like people are working, like
- 13:34we're not messing around. It shows got to do that.
- 13:38I want to ask a quick shield question.
- 13:40Obviously, you guys, you know, lift the shield as an undefeated
- 13:44team. You know, we'll never know what
- 13:46what the other three matches would have looked like if
- 13:47somebody was kind of nipping at your heels.
- 13:49But I think historically that's important to say.
- 13:51You know, we we won unbeaten, unblemished.
- 13:53What was that moment like kind of reaching that pinnacle?
- 13:57It was, it was amazing. Some of our leaders have talked
- 14:00about how at the beginning of the year, we kind of wrote our
- 14:03goals out like on a piece of paper, like what we want to
- 14:05accomplish this year. And we like clearly wrote out we
- 14:09wanted to win the shield and we wanted, you know, to get X many
- 14:13points out of this year. And I remember as we were going
- 14:16through, we went game by game, like how many points ideally we
- 14:19wanted to get out of each one. And as we're going through the
- 14:21season, like we kind of realized as we write it down like we
- 14:24hadn't marked us like losing a game yet.
- 14:27And we all kind of joked about it.
- 14:28This is a preseason. We're like, guys, like this is a
- 14:30little unrealistic, like we need to at least give us like one or
- 14:32two losses, you know, like, but we were like, no, like this is
- 14:36this is the expectation. Like we're good enough to do
- 14:38this. Like this is what we want to
- 14:40achieve. And then we went and did it.
- 14:42And I think that was just so awesome to us that we like
- 14:45clearly like because everyone wants to do that, but we like
- 14:47very clearly put our minds to it.
- 14:50And then to like see that like come to fruition was was
- 14:52amazing. It made it that much sweeter, I
- 14:54think, to lift that trophy. And I think it was awesome to
- 14:57win it. You know, for the girls, I
- 14:59wasn't here last year, but obviously for the girls that
- 15:01were here last year that had the heartbreaker of not making
- 15:04playoffs right at the end, and Marta, obviously, who's been
- 15:07here her whole career, finally had that moment to lift a
- 15:10trophy. Like to do that for them was
- 15:11really special. Quick follow up, where's that
- 15:13piece of paper now? I'd love to it's.
- 15:15In. It's in the locker room, Scott.
- 15:16Yeah, yeah, it's in the locker room.
- 15:18Yeah. It's at the facility.
- 15:19Yeah, yes, we've made references to it multiple times.
- 15:22Yeah, it's still around. That is incredible.
- 15:24I mean, to think I'm glad you brought it up because I was
- 15:26going to ask like, you know, Orlando Pride as a franchise, as
- 15:29a club has had some some lean years.
- 15:32And then last year, like they go on this crazy run at the end of
- 15:35the season to try to really get into the playoffs.
- 15:38How much was that referenced like in the preseason in the
- 15:42build up did were they talking about like a tangible momentum
- 15:45coming into the season? They definitely were like, I
- 15:47think, you know, they utilized that fire from the, you know,
- 15:52heartbreaking end from the season before to just, you know,
- 15:55have that as a focus going into the next season.
- 15:57Like we were this close, like we went on a run and we were this
- 16:00close. Like we are right there.
- 16:02And I remember Hayley Carter mentioned, I forget the exact
- 16:05number of points, but just the few number of points that we
- 16:08were even away from winning the shield last year because the
- 16:10race was so tight. And I think just like
- 16:13remembering that going into the season and having us feel that
- 16:16extra motivation of like, we can do this.
- 16:18Like, yes, it didn't happen for us last year, but we were so
- 16:21close and we have the group to do it.
- 16:23What would it mean to win the double?
- 16:25I mean, it would be amazing. I've obviously people, you know,
- 16:29consistently reference like the shield curse or, you know, it's
- 16:32not, it's not been done, you know, but we've done a lot of
- 16:35things this year that haven't been done before.
- 16:37That's right. So I would not count us out at
- 16:41all. And I think this group is really
- 16:43special and we've taken a lot of time to learn, you know, the
- 16:48lessons from the past few games and reflect on what made us so
- 16:51successful throughout this whole year.
- 16:52And we're ready to go for the playoffs.
- 16:54So I think being able to lift that championship trophy as well
- 16:58would just mean the world for this group.
- 17:00So you've mentioned Haley Carter twice and we, we just have to
- 17:04get into it. I mean, every, everything I've
- 17:06ever read from her, her press conference appearances, I mean,
- 17:10I would follow her anywhere. I live in Seattle, WA, She's on
- 17:13the opposite side of the country.
- 17:15I want her to be a leader in pretty much any scenario.
- 17:18Can you talk a little bit about maybe your relationship with her
- 17:21and kind of what you've seen from her as the leader of the
- 17:23club? Yeah.
- 17:24I mean, it's evident by our success on the field that she is
- 17:29very good at her job. But I do think it goes beyond
- 17:34that. You know, like that's what
- 17:35everyone sees, but they don't see the stuff behind the scenes.
- 17:37They don't see the investment she puts into US day in and day
- 17:41out. And like I mentioned earlier,
- 17:42the culture that we've created here, that is a huge testament
- 17:45to her and who she brings in. And from talking to Seb and
- 17:49those conversations, like the culture that they wanted to
- 17:51create for the group, like that really did start with them.
- 17:54And I think she's been a huge part of that success off the
- 17:57field as well, which then translated to the on the field
- 18:00success. Corey, thank you so much for
- 18:02joining us. We are going to be locked in.
- 18:04We're recording this on a Thursday, tomorrow night.
- 18:07You already know what time it is.
- 18:07Friday night on prime. I'll be in the building.
- 18:10Best of luck to you. Best of luck to the team.
- 18:12And again, thanks so much for joining us.
- 18:15Thank you so much guys. This is awesome.
- 18:16Thanks for having me on. No problem.
- 18:18Thanks again. All right, that was fun.
- 18:23Corey Dyke in the building, how about that?
- 18:25You know, all eyes are going to be on my Orlando Pride tomorrow
- 18:28night. Shout out to Corey for joining
- 18:30us. What were your takeaways?
- 18:31I mean, clearly a thoughtful player, great pedigree.
- 18:35I thought it was really cool how she talked about the culture of
- 18:38the team, how she was prepared to come in from her time at Penn
- 18:41State. I mean, it feels like everybody
- 18:43you hear, whether it's Hayley Carter who was mentioned or Seb
- 18:46Heinz, Corey Dyker, you know, obviously marked a year.
- 18:49I know what time it is, just like what a squad they have over
- 18:52there. Yeah, and you get the feeling
- 18:54that the culture stuff and the pride stuff and the chemistry
- 18:58stuff is like 100% real, 100% authentic, kind of like you can
- 19:02see it. Like, you know, I think
- 19:03everything that Corey mentioned is are things that are very,
- 19:05very visible to the naked eye watching the game.
- 19:07Hopefully we get to see a little bit of that tomorrow night
- 19:10against Chicago Red Stars. Yes, I mean even me as an
- 19:12objective journalist, I look forward to watching them play
- 19:15and and play well. All right, man, I think we did
- 19:17it. It's been another episode of
- 19:18Into the channel Championship episode of the into the channel.
- 19:21Sincere thank you for watching, listening, following, liking,
- 19:22subscribing, just playing, hanging out with your boys.
- 19:24Remember to like if you liked and subscribe or follow into the
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- 19:33positive one over your favorite podcast app.
- 19:35Links to all of our socials in the show notes of this episode.
- 19:38And a big thinking to my coast as well.
- 19:39Mr. Grant Engel for, I don't know, getting on the offensive
- 19:42side of the ball as we went to V1 versus the defensive stalwart
- 19:46Corey Dyke. You know what buddy, Even if we
- 19:48were in a real game of football going to V1, she's absolutely
- 19:52mashing both of us. We're we are drawing dead in
- 19:56that scenario, but it's all right.
- 19:58Luckily it was a congenial interview.
- 20:00I'm looking forward to watching your squad play tomorrow and we
- 20:03will talk to you guys next time.