In the world of sports, the notion that bigger is better seems to be widely accepted, but that appears to be the exception in one sport – soccer.

The women of the ISU soccer team, as well as coach Rebecca Hornbacher, all agree that size, and height in particular, doesn’t matter as far as achieving success, even at the highest levels of the sport.

“In the game of soccer you can play at the highest levels without possessing height,” Hornbacher said. “You can be 5-foot-3, 5-foot-4, or 5-foot, and you can play professionally or even for your country.”

For as long as she can remember, sophomore midfielder Casey Bothwell has been the shortest player on every team she’s played for. This year is no different, as she is generously listed as 5-foot-2-inches on the roster. Only two other women in the Big 12 Conference are listed shorter. Bothwell, however, is unruffled by her lack of physical stature.

“I don’t think height matters in soccer, I don’t think it should matter in any sport,” Bothwell said. “It’s still athletics. You still have to run, lift, train and condition. When it comes down to it, it’s about who wants it more, not size.”

Actually, rather than having disadvantages, shorter players on the team swear that being shorter has its advantages.

Lauren Odino is listed on the roster at 5-foot-5-inches, which makes her the shortest forward on the team. She’s found a loophole, though.

“When I come in to play, I feel people underestimate me because of my height,” Odino said. “Then I can come in and show them that I can hang. I can outskill them, and outplay them at times. It catches them off guard and that definitely gives me an advantage.”

Five-foot-6-inch sophomore midfielder Elise Reid has other positive outlooks on her lack of size. She focuses more on the physical aspect rather than the psychological like Odino.

“I think that us shorter players are lower to the ground, which gives us better balance,” Reid said. “Also, growing up I was always faster than the taller girls and more agile, which is important in soccer.”

Yes, the women are confident in their soccer ability and happy with where they currently are in their respective careers, but they aren’t too proud to admit they wouldn’t mind being taller.

“A few inches here and there would be nice,” Bothwell said. “But you have to deal with what you got and I’m happy with what I got. If you dwell on what you don’t have, then you’ll never get to where you want to be.”

Odino takes her philosophy even further and claims everybody has something they wish they could change, but she says you can’t let it get you down.

“I think we all have physical attributes we wish we had, whether it is different color hair, different eyes, or height. You can’t dwell on that stuff, though,” Odino said.

Reid, who leads the team in goals scored this season, said if you don’t have height, especially in soccer, you can just make up for it in other aspects.

“If you don’t have it vertically, than make sure you have it in other aspects so you can shine in that area,” Reid said. “Work on your skills and speed or have more heart and passion than the others.”

Hornbacher knows despite their lack of height, Odino, Bothwell and Reid are essential parts of the team.

“I don’t feel they think it’s a big deal that they’re short,” Hornbacher said.