Kicking Off Towards Redemption
Girls’ soccer is determined to reclaim their spot in the Central Coast Section
By Sydney Teves
Girls’ soccer is determined to reclaim their spot in the Central Coast Section
By Sydney Teves
Following a fourth place finish in the Mt. Hamilton division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League, but failing to advance to the Central Coast Section last season, the girls’ varsity soccer team is starting off another season with almost the same team they had last year.
Mostly composed of returning players, only around five new players who were added to the roster after tryouts.
One of the three team captains, Jenna D’angelo, 12, feels that this dynamic will allow them to carry over a shared sense of anger from not making the CCS tournament the previous year.
“Having a lot of the same girls and that frustration that we had at the end of the season is going to turn us into a better team now,” D’angelo said. “We can build on what we learned last year and what we went through.”
Head coach Randy Worthington acknowledged the outcome of last season had an effect on the players and believes that it will help motivate them to come back even stronger.
“We’ve had very successful seasons in the past, but last year we had a slump where we didn’t get the success that we wanted. I think bouncing back from that is our biggest challenge,” Worthington said. “This year I think that experience and pain of losing close games will be remembered.”
Although entering a new team with such a tight dynamic may be intimidating to some, the returning players’ effort to include newer players included is paying off, according to Ashley Carter, 9.
“It’s kind of scary being on the same team with people who’ve been on it before, but they are very welcoming, so I feel more comfortable,” said Carter.
With the team putting in the work to improve this year, returning player, Lauren Martinez, 11, looks forward to proving their opponents wrong with the level of play they have developed.
“Although last year we did have a rough season, the chemistry with us is so good and we are all fighting for each other, all playing for each other,” Martinez said. “With this season, it’s just pushing us that much more.”
Mostly composed of returning players, only around five new players who were added to the roster after tryouts.
One of the three team captains, Jenna D’angelo, 12, feels that this dynamic will allow them to carry over a shared sense of anger from not making the CCS tournament the previous year.
“Having a lot of the same girls and that frustration that we had at the end of the season is going to turn us into a better team now,” D’angelo said. “We can build on what we learned last year and what we went through.”
Head coach Randy Worthington acknowledged the outcome of last season had an effect on the players and believes that it will help motivate them to come back even stronger.
“We’ve had very successful seasons in the past, but last year we had a slump where we didn’t get the success that we wanted. I think bouncing back from that is our biggest challenge,” Worthington said. “This year I think that experience and pain of losing close games will be remembered.”
Although entering a new team with such a tight dynamic may be intimidating to some, the returning players’ effort to include newer players included is paying off, according to Ashley Carter, 9.
“It’s kind of scary being on the same team with people who’ve been on it before, but they are very welcoming, so I feel more comfortable,” said Carter.
With the team putting in the work to improve this year, returning player, Lauren Martinez, 11, looks forward to proving their opponents wrong with the level of play they have developed.
“Although last year we did have a rough season, the chemistry with us is so good and we are all fighting for each other, all playing for each other,” Martinez said. “With this season, it’s just pushing us that much more.”