With the playoffs coming soon and a record of 3-10-1, the varsity girls soccer team is looking to finish their season on a high note. Led by senior Co-captains goalie Addisen Nicholson and forward Liv Schaller alongside Head Coach Sal Penta, the team has been focused on rebuilding after graduating multiple seniors last year.
One key goal for the season has been to work on overall stamina and finishing. “We have some winnable games coming up, so we are hoping to come away with some wins,” Schaller said.
Coach Penta mentioned that despite the large age gap on the team and the subsequent learning curve, the team has done well to adjust. “What we’re starting to see now is that the girls are on the same wavelength,” he said. “They’re playing together, and now what we see is a much-improved team from when we started.”
When talking about players who stand out, Coach Penta mentioned Nicholson and Schaller, and how they always make great plays when it matters the most. He also mentioned junior Taylor Caldwell, eighth-grader Caroline Sams, freshman Gianna Guerrera, and sophomore Maliyah Douglas, noting how these key players have improved. “The nice thing about this team is that during every practice and every game, two or three different players step up,” he said. “It’s becoming an enjoyable improvement day in and day out.”
One highlight from the season came during an away game at Marianapolis on Sep 28. With eight minutes left in a tied game, Nicholson kicked the ball from her side to the other goal, made the shot into the net, and scored the game-winning goal.
Another highlight came during an away game at Choate on Oct. 16. Despite being one of the top teams in the division, the KO girls put pressure on the opponent, and even though the Wyverns lost 3-0, they still put up a formidable fight. “We fought hard to the last minute, and even though it ended in a close loss, we held them the entire time,” Schaller said.
Some things the team is continuing to work on are communication, defense, and supporting one another. “There needs to be more voices out there, constantly communicating with each other,” Coach Penta said. “The game becomes much easier with more verbal communication.”
Some things the team does well are staying focused during practice and using their time to the fullest. Coach Penta noted how the team has improved on this. “When the practice starts, they are engaged mentally and physically, and ask questions if they don’t understand what’s going on,” he said. “Practice sessions are becoming a lot more productive, and it’s becoming more efficient.”
Most recently, the team won a Pink-Out home game against Hopkins on Oct. 23 with a score of 2-1, a nice boost following back-to-back losses against Choate and Westminster. The team played Hotchkiss on Oct. 26, losing 0-3, and Millbrook on Oct. 30. We wish them all the best!
