Girls' Soccer Falls to Worcester 0-1
The girls’ varsity soccer team, known as Soxie, played a close match against Worcester Academy on Saturday, November 4. Despite a valiant effort, Big Red fell short against Worcester with a final score of 0-1. In what has been a frustrating season so far, the team has kept a high morale while remaining spirited and ambitious. The results of this game makes their seasonal record 1-12-1.
“We lost 1-0, but the energy at the beginning was really great.”
In order to succeed, the team has been narrowing down on specific aspects of their playing. Lower Caroline Fleming highlighted their recent work on, “corner kicks and set plays, because, in one recent game we had many corner kicks in the first half and we didn’t do so well on them.” Before the game against Worcester each player practiced to improve on this area of playing.
The coaches also got the team together before the game to give updates on what exactly the strengths of Worcester were, and how they could excel. “Usually in our talk before the game, the coaches will tell us a little bit about their key players, who to look out for, but also some tactics about stuff we’ve been working on in practice that we can roll over into our game and how we play,” Upper Claire Theberge said.
Big Red implemented a new tactic for the game, by switching up the formation of players. Lower Robin Potter remarked that the new way of playing “helped us with transitioning and switching the field, which gave us more points of offense… We did better at attacking the middle, and not just from the outsides,” Potter said of their improvement.
Coming off of a grueling 0-3 defeat to Middlesex School the previous Wednesday, Soxie was reinvigorated going into their game against Worcester. Theberge explained that the scrimmage and possession exercises they did before the game helped to fire up the team. Potter agreed with Theberge and added that the team does a good job of “starting the game with intensity.” Their energy and vigor was immediately evident as the game started. Worcester and Exeter had a heated back and forth throughout the first half but neither team was able to score. As the second half began, Big Red tried to maintain that same level of energy. However, Worcester was able to touch the ball past goalie Gillian Quinto in the middle of the second half. Big Red made a strong push until the end of the game but was unable to catch up to their opponents.
Although the team lost, Theberge applauded the team’s consistent high spirit. “We lost 1-0, but the energy at the beginning was really great,” she said. “We struggled with that a little bit at the beginning of the year but we’ve really been improving on that and starting strong.” According to Theberge, the team plays their best when there is vocal support from their teammates on the bench because it makes for a more rejuvenated team effort. “It’s pretty helpful when the people on the bench are cheering for the people on the field, because it just sort of gets them more excited and motivated which is good for the game,” she explained.
Potter also praised the skill the defense players demonstrated during the game. “[Worcester was] a really talented team, and I think our defense did a good job containing them and their through passes,” she said. She also elaborated that the midfielders’ passing has improved, something the team struggled with early on in the season. Lower Dennesha Rolle agreed with Potter saying, “we were able to break through the midfield and string together passes.”
After the conclusion of the game, Potter reflected on improvements they can still make. She explained that the team should continue to work on developing more “offensive opportunities,” something that has challenged the team throughout the season. Rolle echoed Potter’s sentiments and said that the team will continue to improve their “mode of attack and communication.”
Theberge remarked that the team ordinarily trains game by game, and have not yet given much thought on the approaching Exeter v. Andover match this Saturday. However, “the preps are really excited because it’s their first one, and seniors are really excited because it’s their last one,” she said. The team is hopeful for a triumph, which in Theberge’s opinion, could be “sort of a redemption, even through a rough season.” Potter’s thoughts on the future games are optimistic, saying, “I think we can just keep working hard, keep maintaining a positive attitude and trying to finish the season on a good note.”