As the sun set Nov. 29, the junior varsity (JV) girls soccer team took the field against the St. Brendan Sabres from Miami. Although the girls played with hustle and grit, it wasn’t enough to defeat the Sabres, and they lost 5-0.
The game started off with possession constantly rotating between the two teams, both unable to score. Eventually, about midway through the first half, the Sabres found the back of the net. After more back-and-forth action throughout the beginning of the second half, St. Brendan reached the goal once again, building up momentum for the team. The Sabres kicked off a streak, scoring three more goals before the final buzzer rang out.
Strong defense from defenders such as sophomore Zoe Obanu helped keep down the goal differential. “I wasn’t able to defend every single shot, but if we didn’t have such a strong lineup in the back, we would have let in many more goals tonight,” Obanu said. Another key factor was eighth grade goalie Reagan Rivers, making save after save against the aggressive Sabre offense.
As a JV player, athletes such as sophomore Ana Moreno Espana have the opportunity to try out different positions on game day. This is only Moreno Espana’s second season playing, so this versatility can be helpful to gain experience and wisdom on the sport.
“I am usually a goalie because running isn’t my greatest strength, but today I got to try [playing] forward, which was a unique experience,” Moreno Espana said.
The JV girls have a chance to redeem themselves against Coral Spring Charter School Dec. 1 at home.
All photos taken by Zoe Horwitz.
