Nov. 1., 2024
By Isabella Apple
Staff Writer
The girls soccer team has had a winning season with a record of 12-6-1 as of Oct. 31.
Senior captain center back Kyla Marino, who has been on varsity since her freshman year, said the season has been challenging because the team lost three players to injuries.
Marino and sophomore midfielder Daniela Barbieri tore their ACLs, and freshman goalkeeper Madison Goff tore her meniscus. In their absence, junior varsity players moved up to fill the vacant positions on varsity.
Marino said she is disappointed that she will be unable to play for the rest of the season.
“I was looking forward to leading the team as a captain one last time, and now I have to watch from outside,” Marino said. “It’s devastating.”
“With so many people having injuries, it was hard to think we [could] still do [well], but we all pushed each other to work hard and have been pretty successful.”
Marino said tearing her ACL taught her not to take anything for granted because life can change in an instant.
“Things like the annoying warmups and stretches that I used to dread, I didn’t know they would be my last. It’s hard to accept that something so routine, so small, is now something I miss,” Marino said.
She said her teammates have been supportive, checking in regularly and letting her know there is still a place for her on the team.
“Even though I can’t be on the field, I still want to be as involved as possible. I plan to support my teammates from the sidelines, helping them stay organized and motivated and offering advice when needed,” Marino said.
Junior forward Zeynep Celik, who is in her third year on varsity, said since the team has been impacted by so many injuries, the remaining players have needed to be especially diligent.
“With so many people having injuries, it was hard to think we [could] still do [well], but we all pushed each other to work hard and have been pretty successful,” Celik said.
She said even though the team has been competing well, there is still room for improvement.
“We need to communicate more on the field, but more importantly, listen to our teammates when they tell us something,” Celik said.
Sophomore forward and winger Hailey Welton, who joined varsity as a freshman, said the team is more connected this year compared to last year.
“We have overcome a lot of stuff together, which brought us closer,” Welton said.
She said the team has grown from the adversity it encountered.
“We have faced some very difficult challenges so far this season, but we have continued to stay positive and give it our all,” said Welton.
