JV Girls’ Soccer: Team Effort Reaps Rewards

By Gabriella Gorham, Grade 10

Team work, hard work and effort have finally paid off. JV girls’ soccer team has generally been known as the ‘underdogs’ of soccer within the AIS community. The game on March 25 however, changed that perspective. If we backtrack and reminisce on our first game, we will understand why. Our first game was incredibly nerve racking and scary. We, as a team, knew we were ready to face the challenge but of course being the first game, nerves and lack of experience took over. Tuesday March 11, AIS JV girls played the Atlanta All Girls school. Unfortunately we lost that game, ending 4-1. Mary Doyle scored an impressive indirect kick. Mary shot the ball and unfortunately, from our perspective the goalie caught the ball. However, lucky for us the goalie was behind the line in the goal, and the referees were forced to consider it a goal. As that game ended we walked off the field a little disappointed in ourselves, but we realized it was a good first game and a great learning experience. Boy was that ever true!

After spring break, we gathered Monday afternoon for our normal weekly practice; realizing we had a game the next day, we had to push ourselves to get back into the rhythm of things and back in to soccer shape. Practice was hard that day, and we lost a little bit of faith because we realized we might have had a little too much fun and relaxation over spring break. We looked as if we had forgotten everything we had learned, and coach was naturally frustrated with us. Tuesday March 25, we had our second game against Mt. Pisgah. That day during school, the JV girls all sat down, and had a good, bonding lunch together to talk about the game, figure out a team plan, and remind ourselves on what we need to focus. As we walked out onto that field, we were confident and strong as a team. We pressured the other team, held our line, and were aggressive -- things that we had practiced but had never been applied in a game situation. According to some spectators, we looked like a completely different team out on the AIS field.

Our teamwork and communication paid off in our victory against Mt. Pisga, with the final score being 1-0. Mid-fielder, Torryn Jennings-Hill, made that fabulous goal, kicking the ball straight into the goal, sailing right over the goalie’s head. We were all so happy and proud of her and of our team. We have come a long way, surprisingly in such a short time period. Thanks to our coach, Veronica McDaniel, and her great teaching, support and encouragement, we have surpassed even our own expectations. The practice and training is intense and very difficult, but it is days and games like this when we, as a team, realize that all of that hard work definitely pays off. -Way to go girls! Keep up the great work!!!