Junior Angela Tejada-Soliz and Sophomore Nour Chouiki clearing the ball.
Malden High School’s Girls Soccer team is starting off the new season with great determination and perseverance. Senior Izabelly Barros, who is one of the three captains on the team, explained that the season is off to a great start; their current record stands at 2:1:1. Barros stated, that “[they have] only had four games so it’s a good start.”
Barros has been playing soccer for four years and had taken interest in the sport because she wished to play a sport throughout her time in high school and “just wanted to try [it] out”. She further explains how the love of soccer runs in her family due to the fact that she is Brazilian.
Barros explained that last season the team as a whole was very close to making States. She also explained how the team has had to work harder than previous years in order to come closer to achieving this goal and that “hopefully [they] really do well this year.” Barros also described her personal experience of last year’s season. She mentioned that her sophomore year had been her first year on varsity, so it was not until her junior year that she began to get more playing time. Last year, she had much more to improve on so she worked a lot harder during the summer. She stated that, “just as a captain and individual player, [she plays] the way [she] usually [does]… [they] improve every time [they] play.”
She went on further to explain that something she would have done differently from last year would be having a more positive mindset and being more confident in herself. “That was an issue for [her] last year so that’s one of [her] goals for this year,” Barros explained.
Aside from playing during the games, Barros has significant responsibility as a team captain. She explained how the position requires self control as an individual and being a role model for her fellow players. She also added that it is important to “be there for [the team] if [they have] any questions or need any help on any plays”. Overall, Barros believes that the players are doing really well during the games. They all have been working hard during the practices and working on what they need to improve on.
Apart from qualifying for States, a few other expectations she has for the team is to work together and maintain good communication. She mentioned that, “communication is always a key for a team and [their] bonding has grown each day during practice and each game”. Barros included that “each play is important and always know a step ahead of what you’re going to do because with soccer you have to work fast. [They are] definitely working on it. Every game we see an issue and the next practice we try to fix it. Our coach is very supportive. He’s always there for us, he knows exactly what we need to work on and guides us throughout the way.”
A specific game the team is looking forward to is playing Medford, a rival team of MHS. Usually they do “okay”, but this year Barros want the team to do “more than okay.” Barros explained that Medford is tough competition for Malden due to their lack of seniors. Medford’s Girls Soccer team is made of mostly sophomores and juniors. To Barros “it’s a new generation because the past seniors have graduated so it’s a whole new team….[they] have to work on the bonding, the communication, and just work together.
Ultimately, Barros explained how proud she is of the girls and hopes that the team does really well. She also added a final comment that, “[they have] been working hard and we all know we all want the same thing.”
The Girls Soccer team’s next game will be against Saugus on September 27. Good luck to the girls!
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