Nov. 14, 2023
By Emily Reed
Editor-in-Chief
The girls soccer team played its final game on Oct. 26, ending with a 0-5 loss in the first-round of state sectionals against Hanover Park Regional High School. Its record for the regular season was 10-9.
Head Coach Hykey said she is proud of the determination her team exhibited.
“September was rough. There were games that we were in that we lost. [The team] could have just packed it in, and they [didn’t],” Hykey said.
She said as the season went on, the players made progress by working on their weaknesses and strengthening their chemistry.
“We [were] finally starting to connect offensively in terms of at least keeping the ball on the ground, finding each other’s feet [and] playing the simple pass,” Hykey said. “Earlier in the year, we were just kind of panicked and just kicking it forward and not having any thought or purpose to our passing.”
Junior Madeline Turano, who joined varsity last year, said the team initially struggled due to the loss of six seniors.
“Last season, we lost almost the whole starting lineup, and this season we started with a brand new lineup and formation,” Turano said. “With the incoming players, we had to form bonds and learn each other’s playing styles.”
Turano said the highlight of the season was on Oct. 4 when LHS had a 1-0 win at home against Secaucus High School.
“Losing to them the first time this season was rough, and we knew we should’ve won, but we lacked effort that day,” Turano said. “The second time we played them, we already knew how they played, and we were prepared to play them. Our effort was at 100% that day, and due to that, we won.”
“We [were] finally starting to connect offensively in terms of at least keeping the ball on the ground, finding each other’s feet [and] playing the simple pass.”
Senior Julia Anthony, who joined varsity as a freshman, said the best win of the season was the 3-1 victory at home against North Arlington High School on Sept. 18 because of the rivalry between LHS and North Arlington.
“They [caused] us to lose our league title last season when they beat us at the Red Bull Stadium [in Harrison on Sept. 20], so it was definitely a good feeling to take back the win we lost last year,” Anthony said.
Anthony, who will be playing on Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Division III soccer team next year, said she will miss the familial quality of LHS’ team.
“Going through all different kinds of highs and lows with the same group of girls makes you form a bond like no other,” said Anthony.
