Varsity Soccer Teams Set Sights On Districts

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Anna Selden

The girls’ soccer team practicing their passing (via Anna Selden, sophomore).

As fall sports draw to a close, soccer season begins.

The boys’ team will be looking to rebuild this year due to the loss of 11 seniors last year. The girls’ team will be hoping to move on past the District Semi-Finals, which they lost in penalty kicks last season. Both have high aspirations. 

The girls’ team will have 19 regular season games this year, facing traditional rivals like Cardinal Gibbons, Westminster, and Calvary Christian Academy. Type One talked to some of the players to find out what they are looking forward to this season.

Senior Karlie Pollock, a returning member of the girls’ varsity soccer team, discussed the team’s strategy for playing in big rivalry games and keeping a winning record.

“Our strategy for these big, important games is to just play our own possession style of play and to control the things we can control, like our attitudes and our focus. I think the most important thing in keeping a winning record is to stay grounded and humbled by what we have already achieved,” she said.

The Lady Panthers are currently 1-1, with one win over Chaminade-Madonna and a loss to Cardinal Gibbons. The girls have many strong returning players that they hope will help increase their team chemistry.

Senior Skylar Pollock shared her goals for the season and what drills help the team to prepare for real-life game situations.

“We do a lot of shadow play and scrimmages to prepare us for game situations,” she remarked, “my goals for the season are to work hard and have a fun senior season.”

Meanwhile, the boys’ team will have 21 regular season games. The boys’ varsity team had a preseason game against Somerset on October 8, winning by a score of 4-3.

Although the boys lost 11 seniors last year, they have many returning members and new members of the team this year. Having a younger team helps to build relationships between the older and younger players and will lead to having more experienced players on the team in the future.

Returning member of the boys’ varsity soccer team, senior Ryan Sullivan, will be attending Boston University and playing soccer there in the fall.

He spoke about his goals for the season. “My main goal is to end the season without injury and hopefully win Districts before I leave for Boston,” he stated.

As usual, winning Districts is the primary goal for the boys’ soccer team. 

Senior Ben Schwartz explained how he thinks the season will go and what is important for the upcoming games.

“We have a very young, exciting team, and I think we’ll come together to have a really great season,” he continued, “my main goal for our team this season is for us to win our important district games against our rivals.”

We wish both varsity soccer teams a fantastic season this year and luck in all of their upcoming games.