Every step. Every kick. Every move made on the field led to one more goal, increasing Carrollton’s chance of winning the middle school soccer A team finals on Jan. 22 against Gulliver.
The day before, Carrollton had faced Ransom Everglades in a very close match. The game came down to penalty kicks. As Carrollton prepared for penalties, the stadium was quiet, nerves were high, and the only sound was the heavy breathing of the players who knelt on the sidelines, watching their teammates take shots. Carrollton’s new goalie Amelie Permuy ‘30 made the final play of the game when she dove, blocking Ransom’s final attempt at a goal.
After this victory, Carrollton had to face Gulliver in the finals. Unfortunately, Carrollton lost 0-3. However, while preparing for this game the players learned discipline, confidence, and responsibility. Team captain Mila Portela ‘30 said, “Soccer has helped me build my confidence by being put in tough situations like penalty kicks, and I have learned to deal with difficult situations on and off the field.”
Also, over the course of the season, teammates developed a strong community and friendships. To Ana Lopez ‘30, who played center-attack, this season was about “getting close to my teammates…I had to believe in myself and my team. I think that it was the teamwork and our friendships and the connections we made that really helped us on the field.”
There is more to soccer than dribbling across a field to score. It’s about the life lessons that you learn along the way.
