After Simon Whitehead left his position as Varsity Head Coach of the Edina High School Girls’ Soccer team, the team was in need of a replacement. Katie Aafedt was up for the challenge.

Aafedt has been in the EHS Soccer program since 2002. She spent one year as the head coach of the JV team, and then moved up as an assistant coach for Varsity before filling the position for head coach. Additionally, she has coached club soccer for the Edina Soccer Club, and the Minnesota Thunder Academy.

“I fell in love with soccer at a young age, and always had fun with it,” said Aafedt.

Her passion grew in high school, when she played for the EHS Soccer program and then went on to play collegiate soccer for four years at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota.

As of now, Edina is sitting in a four-way tie for second place in the Lake Conference.

“We have arguably the hardest schedule in the state, so it will be a battle every single game. We don’t get the luxury of any easy games this year,” said Aafedt.

To keep up with the tough schedule, and high level of playing, the team has to be constantly working and improving.

“My expectations for the season are to be a much better team at the end of the season than at the beginning. I want to come into sections playing the best we’ve played all year,” said Aafedt.

Despite the hard work the team has cut out for them, she plans on keeping it fun as well. “I’ve found that the more fun [soccer] is, the easier it is to improve,” Aafedt said.

Outside of coaching, Aafedt spends her time with her three children, seven-year old Fuzz, five-year old Reese, and two-year old Mac.

“I like to stay active, whether that means going to the pool with my kids, watching their sports, or just chasing them around,” Aafedt said.

Additionally, Aafedt admits to being an avid TV watcher.

“I’m a Bravo-holic. I will watch just about anything on that channel,” she said.

At the end of the day, Aafedt enjoys coaching soccer because of her enthusiasm for the game, but mostly because she loves “seeing the look on the girls’ faces when we win a game after playing our hearts out.”