10/17/24 Highlight: Girls’ Varsity Soccer

Courtesy of @peagvsoccer

By ERIN HAN, FIONA LIU, and SOPHIE LOW

On Wednesday, Oct. 9, the girls’ varsity soccer team faced a tough loss to Pingree, finishing 1-4 after a challenging fight.

“In soccer, tense moments and hurdles often arrive after the opponent scores,” said senior Sophie Rose Riopel. “One of our continuous goals this season is to uphold our community and positivity through both easier games and tougher losses.”

Despite the final score, it was a standout moment when senior Elle Perry nailed a stellar goal from the far edge of the box. Riopel recalled, “It was hard to see the angle from other parts of the field, so it was very exciting when the ref made the call that it was in!”

Suffice it to say, the goal was remarkable. Additionally, Riopel commented on the unwavering pressure they applied to Pingree School by focusing on Coach Diego’s pre-game goals. She detailed, “Going in, we knew Pingree would be a very strong opponent, so our goals included containing them defensively in a compact shape and on 1v1s, forcing them to the outside, and finding our midfield for switches and offensive movement.”

She concluded, “Although the scoreboard was not in our favor at the end, we were proud of the energy we held throughout the game and how we accomplished these goals.”

Despite the loss, the team’s spirit remains high, demonstrating their firm determination to come back stronger than before. The resilience was showcased in Perry’s remarkable goal and Exeter’s considerable effort in keeping pace with Pingree, an admittedly challenging opponent. Although this was an unfavorable loss for the team, it only serves as fuel for their upcoming matches.

On Friday, Oct. 11, Exeter stunned Northfield Mount Hermon with a 1-0 win, proving they are more than capable of excelling after rough setbacks. Exeter girls’ varsity soccer now turns its focus to its next game against Kimball Union Academy on Wednesday, Oct. 16, at 3:45 p.m.