After last year’s rebuilding season, UC High Girls Soccer Team is now aiming high, hoping to be CIF champions.

   Senior Mimi Olney said, “We lost about eleven players in total, maybe fewer. We lost a lot of seniors and the year before that was a really tough season. So last year was a rebuilding year, so we’re really trying to push forward this year and get some titles and wins this year.”

   “I think we’ll do pretty good this season, because last year was a building season and we all got really close, so now we’re a really close-knit group of girls, so I think we’ll work really well together,” explained Junior Gaby Bruce. Despite the loss of the seniors from last year, Bruce believes that the team has a strong line this season that will make up for what they lost. 

   A big part of their team’s success stems from their strong bond both on and off the field. “The team has been like a second family for all of us, and I don’t think that’s going to change anytime soon. I feel super close with all of the girls on the team, and I know that everyone else feels that way too. We have an environment of supporting each other no matter what, and I don’t think that’s going to change because the seniors left,” stated Olney. 

   Off the field, the girls organize spaghetti dinners before home games, breakfast before school, and sometimes even sleepovers. Senior Alexis Engelbretson credits the teams success is caused by their good relationship explaining, “Bonding actually does make a difference to how we act on the field. We get more comfortable with each other, which leads to talking and communicating on the field. We have a connection between each other that helps us play better.” 

   “One thing we always try to do is never take cheap shots,” disclosed Olney. “We’re always respectful on the field and off the field. A lot of that is because we know what it’s like to be treated poorly — we’ve played teams that are not the nicest, or too aggressive. We want to play soccer, and we want to play good soccer, so we try to put that out in hopes that we’ll get it back.”

   Bruce concluded that if they stay on the same page and continue to communicate with each other about things, they can improve on and the things they’re doing well, it will make a positive impact on their playing and what they can accomplish.

   “We’re really trying to work hard throughout this season,” said Olney. “We’re going to put in the work at practice and at games. In the past, we’ve really tried but just made silly mistakes, so we’re just trying to eliminate those and hopefully have a more successful season.”