Written by Acacia Bernier, Staff Writer
There is no stopping our Girls Soccer team with the immense momentum they have picked up already.
The Girls Soccer team at Poly has had an amazing start to their pre-league season!
It began with an away game against Ramona High School, which ended in a sweet victory with a 3-1 final score. Then in the same week, the girls began the Patriot Cup tournament, which would consist of three separate games and the final for those who made it. The girls had a strong lead with their win against Orange Vista High School (4-1) and then again against Patriot High School (3-1). However it was then that the team was placed against Martin Luther King High School, our notorious rivals. Despite the tough competition, the Lady Bears’ soccer team has held strong the last five years with a continuous streak of beating the Wolves. This time was no different when the girls beat the team with a nail-biting 1-0 victory. It was then that they went on to the finals and won against Sultana High School (1-0).
With a perfect record and a tournament championship under their belt, the girls went on to their second challenge of the season a week later at Citrus Hill High School. These girls had little time to rest but a satisfying record that they wanted to keep.
And…that record they did keep. The girls came in with a target on their back but ended up winning the Citrus Hill tournament, securing an additional four wins to end up with an astounding 9-0 record. This season’s record, according to IE Soccer, has been the longest win streak for the Poly Girls since 2009, which translates to one of the best season starters for Poly in over 15 years!
The question is- what is the secret to such profound success? In interviews with a few of the athletes on the Varsity Girls soccer team, they reflected on their recent success and where they believe the season will go.
Up-and-coming freshman Alayah Joseph, who has begun her first season on Varsity, has become a show stopper to say the least. She is a striker for the team, and only her second goal of the season happened to be the crucial game point against King.
Alayah stated that her first season has felt “welcoming” in the way that the team has allowed her to transition smoothly from previous teams. Furthermore, she states that their start to the season has gone very well and that she believes the future of the team is bright, as all the girls “are very committed” and will continue to strive toward the goal of doing their best in every game they play.
Savannah Bustamante (12), a defender on Varsity and a fourth-year player for Poly Soccer, also corroborates this same positive narrative, as she explained how the beginning of the season has “been such a good experience” in the way that the first couple of tournaments showcased a genuine energy and desire for the game. Additionally, she commented on how “many of the new players have made such a positive impact,” whether that be the incoming freshmen or rookies making their debut on the team. For the future of the team and the season, she comes with a refreshing excitement and is ready for “a great rest of the season.”
Lastly in an interview with Maya Pamnani (12), a midfielder on Varsity who has also played since her freshman year, she brought a very genuine and enlightening perspective on the season so far. Pamnani stated that a 9-0 record is “pretty good,” but the girls still “need to get used to playing as a team” in order to progress successfully throughout the rest of the season. She also reflects on how the “technicality” of the game can improve, but reassures that their coach, Josh Nash, will “guide [them]” toward what she hopes will be a winning league season.
The Girls Soccer team has truly made Poly proud, and let’s continue to support them throughout the rest of this season. Go Bears!