10/3/24 Highlight: Girls’ Varsity Soccer

By NAOMI MOSKOVICH, AMANI SHETTY, and ARISA YOSHINO

The girl’s varsity soccer team has had an action-packed week starting on Wednesday, Sept. 25, facing off against three competitive opponents: Holderness, Austin Prep, and Buckingham Browne and Nichols School. Each match provided valuable lessons and opportunities for growth as the team aimed to improve their performance. 

The week kicked off on a high note with a dominating 5-0 win against Holderness, marking the team’s first win of the season. Coach Alia Haskins expressed her excitement for the match, stating, “I am super excited, we are gonna have more offensively minded games, specifically on Wednesday and Friday. Getting our outside backs moving forward into the attack. And most of all I’m excited for Friday Night Lights.” The players embraced this offensive strategy, leading to a thrilling game where they showcased their skills.

From the opening whistle at the Holderness game, the team demonstrated exceptional ball movement and cohesion. Lower Lily Lombardi highlighted the positive energy on the field, explaining, “Holderness’ game was very fun, it didn’t feel like a game, it just felt like we were all having fun.” 

This sentiment captured the overall spirit of the match, where each player contributed to the victory, creating an enthusiastic and supportive environment that led the team to several goals.

However, the team faced tougher challenges in their subsequent matches. On Friday, Sept. 27, they lost 1-4 against Austin Prep, a game that Lombardi described as disappointing despite their efforts: “Game went well, but the results were not favorable. We tried our best. We played well, but it didn’t go our way.” The team’s determination was clear, but they struggled to make the most of their chances.

The final match of the week against Buckingham Browne and Nichols on Saturday, Sept. 28, resulted in a 0-3 loss. Despite the setbacks, the players remain committed to their growth. As the team looks ahead, they are focused on building on their experiences from this week. With the momentum from their first win and a commitment to improving their play, they surely promise an exciting season ahead. 

Upper Morgan Signore, who assisted the first goal in the Holderness game, emphasized their teamwork, explaining, “It is visible in our play with our ball movement. We have been very good at pressing as a unit and playing as a team and playing to each of our teammates’ strengths.”