So far in the season, the varsity girls soccer team has lived up to the outstanding expectations they had set last year, plowing through Prep League with many challenges but even more successes. Last year, the team had an overall winning record of 9-5-2. This season, the team once again shows promise with a winning record of 5-4-1 thus far. The team hopes to continue their streak and finish strong in the Prep League.
After a dominant 4-0 win against Providence on Monday, Jan. 6, the league had to cancel four games for Poly and delay one due to the devastating fires in Los Angeles County.
“The fires and air quality issues have really limited our practice and game time,” said head coach Heidi Strauss, who has coached soccer at Poly for 17 years. “Almost half of our league season has been canceled and won’t be rescheduled, which is tough. Despite all of that, we really cherish the time we do get together. Being on the field with this team is my favorite part of the day and my favorite time of the year, so we make the most of every opportunity we get.”
Despite a disaster interrupting their season, the team continues to push one another to improve and persevere.
Freshman midfielder Charlotte Newhall said, “We are definitely getting more comfortable with each other on the field and being able to connect a lot more. We know each other a lot better as players now.”
“Our team now plays at a cohesive speed and we feel that we are all on the same page,” shared freshman defender Izzie Giovannone.
Looking back at the previous season, the team consisted of seven seniors. With a surge of underclassmen talent, the team now has a roster of fourteen freshmen, showing great promise for future development.
“We love soccer, and we think it’s a good program, especially because of the team,” said freshman defender Karina Kim. “It’s one of the closer teams, and everyone is good friends with each other.”
Consequently, these tight bonds within the team also present a bittersweet moment for many upperclassmen, understanding they will have to say goodbye at the end of the year.
“When I was a freshman, both my sisters were on the team, so then I was a little sister. Now, with such a freshmen-heavy team, I get to be a big sister,” said senior defender Catie Sabbag. “Coach Strauss told me and the other freshmen that when we are seniors, our freshmen class is going to be really good. Then, you have expectations because of what we were told. They beat all my expectations. They are insane.”
As the Panthers continue through their season, their connection and dynamic will help them stand out from other teams. With the collective goal of making CIF in mind, the team hopes to begin their journey by defeating Providence on Feb. 3.