Captain Denoncourt Embraces Final Season with Pioneers, Focused on Impact and Unity
As he prepares for his final collegiate season, senior captain Adrian Denoncourt carries the weight of leadership with clarity and conviction. After transferring from Las Positas College last year and posting four goals and one assist in his first season with the Pioneers, Denoncourt has earned the trust of his coach and the respect of his teammates. Now, he's determined to help lead the program forward.
"I'm very excited for the upcoming season and grateful for the opportunity to represent PUC in my final year as a collegiate athlete," Denoncourt shared. "It's a good feeling knowing that my coach has trusted me to lead the program after coming here as a transfer. I feel that I've earned the respect of my teammates as well which means a lot to me. I hope that we can achieve success together and finish the year proud of what we accomplished."
Last year's experience changed the way he approached leadership. While he's worn the captain's armband before, it wasn't until joining PUC that he truly leaned into his authority and voice.
"I think that last year I learned the power of being an assertive leader," he said. "I've been a captain on multiple teams in my past but it wasn't until last year that I used my authority to get the most out of the team in practice. If coach was unable to be there it was up to me to lead and maintain the focus and I found that being assertive and demanding was most effective."
For Denoncourt, leadership also means creating a sense of belonging beyond the pitch. He sees chemistry off the field as a critical ingredient for success on it.
"I feel that a captain has to have a relationship with everyone on the team," he explained. "I take responsibility in building team chemistry off the field because that translates on the pitch in the way we play. I believe that if you keep everyone involved, and feeling that sense of brotherhood and belonging, it will help overall team success."
On a personal level, Denoncourt is aiming to elevate his impact in the attacking third. He already views himself as a well-rounded player, but this year, he wants his presence to demand attention from every opponent.
"This year I want to be more menacing in the attack," he said. "I feel that my overall game is well-rounded, but I'm focused on becoming a constant threat in the attacking third of the pitch. I want my teammates to feel confident that when I have the ball something dangerous can happen, whether it's creating a chance or finishing one myself."
As the Pioneers navigate the inevitable pressures of the season, Denoncourt wants the team's response to be rooted in trust and composure.
"In my opinion, moments of pressure show the true character of a team and that's why in these moments we have to stay true to who we are in the way we play and in the way we act," he said. "I want pressure to build our chemistry and our mental strength. We shouldn't turn on each other and we need to remember that we're fighting and competing for the same thing. Moments of pressure shouldn't allow frustration to get the best of us. Instead, we should be encouraging and the way we play should reflect our support and trust in each other."
He sees communication as a fundamental part of that response. For Denoncourt, it's not just about directing play. It's about fostering positive connection and clarity under pressure.
"I think that communication should be a staple for our team," he said. "If we can't effectively communicate with each other, we can't expect to get things done on the pitch. As captain, I feel it's my responsibility to mediate communication as well as encourage others to be p ositive in their communication. In terms of affecting the game, it's a captain's responsibility to direct and facilitate communication within the team."
From his mindset to his mission, Adrian Denoncourt enters his final year as a Pioneer intent on leaving the jersey better than he found it and helping the team do the same.
Story by: Kenneth Perez