As the soccer season wraps up, the varsity girls reflect on their accomplishments and aim to end their season strong.
The team has shown considerable improvement since the numerous losses that started the season. The girls’ skills and teamwork were lacking at the beginning of the season, but through hard work at practice, they are completing the season with success and high hopes for their final games.
Coach Mike Lyman is proud to see such achievements within the limits of the season.
“The last part of the season we have gone undefeated for five games,” Coach Lyman said. “We lost quite a few games mainly because our schedule was stacked with the hardest teams in the league with Twelve Bridges and Colfax. We have definitely improved and we have seen cohesion.”
The team has changed since last year; the many seniors that left last year were replaced with freshmen and a lot of players with very little soccer experience. Sophomore Macy Martin commented on the layout of the team and their development throughout the season.
“Last year we had [more] seniors; we have some seniors this year but we mostly have freshmen and a couple of new juniors that joined,” said Martin. “I think we really improved this year because we learned communication and how to be a team together.”
Junior Elaine Owyoung agreed, but added that there is still work to be done for the girls’ continual success.
“Our teamwork hasn’t been as optimal as it should be but I feel like the girls’ skills and talents have really improved this year,” she said. “There are a lot of underclassmen, which is wonderful.
Junior Olivia Herr explained the importance of a valuable player on the team.
“We have Grace Pratt,” said Herr. “Last year we were really missing some key striker positioning and she’s come in and filled that role very well.”
Herr expressed that the improvement of the team’s defense is considerable, and just as important as the advancement of the offense.
“Last year we lost a good amount of our defensive players but we really stepped up this year and we have a solid defensive line,” she said.
Coach Lyman commented on the progressment of the team’s goalie, Martin.
“We have a couple people that I think have really improved over the season,” he said. “I have seen Macy in the goal; she has always been really good, but if you look at her stats from the beginning of the season and the end of the season, they’re like night and day.”
Martin trained outside of the soccer season to accomplish her goals of becoming an even more skilled keeper, earning her recognition of improvement.
“I did a lot of off season work like diving, and my aggression has become much better,” said Martin. “I’m proud of myself for that.”
Joyful of the accomplishments that this season has brought, Owyoung has high expectations for future years of the varsity girls soccer team.
“Hopefully we’ll have lots of girls next year so we are setting ourselves up for success in years to come,” Owyoung said. “I think this year has been a rather successful year.”
