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The NS girls soccer team has played well this season, despite having a record of 3-11. Recently at Delta, girls soccer beat Delta for the first time in years.
“The entire Delta program was extremely salty and bitter about it because they realized that perhaps for the first time in years, maybe even a decade or longer, they lost to NS at home,” JV coach Zach Hafen said.
Additionally, the team has won two other games against the Alumni team and the Utah Military Academy. Though they have suffered some tough losses, they keep playing hard as their season continues.
“We’ve lost a whole lot of games, and again, like I’ve said, we’ve competed in most of them,” said girls soccer coach Julio Tapia.
Small mistakes can cost the team a game, and there have been several.
“We have arguably the most talented girls team we probably have ever had,” Hafen said. “Whether it be small mistakes or just not being able to clean up the fine details or finishing touches, we have not been able to capitalize on the opportunities that we’ve been given.”
The girls have grown from challenges and keep progressing as they play and try to improve little by little.
“I especially noticed that on the JV team we had a lot of girls who at the beginning of the season looked and felt like they didn’t have any idea what was going on,” Hafen said. “Now, all of them have stepped up drastically.”
A few on the team are standing out. Abigail Huber and Lydia Ence are two that strengthen the team by scoring goals offensively while also helping defend. Defensive standouts include Ashlyn Anderson, Journey Toomey, and Abigail Philpot.
All the players, including these, are actively working hard and polishing the skills that they have.
“Overall, we are moving right along,” Tapia said.
Furthermore, the soccer team’s emotions and mindset also changed and adapted as well as their skills.
“One person will have a bad attitude and it just spreads across the field, but we’ve been able to work through that and have a good attitude and work together,” said team captain Lydia Ence.
This sport is one that not only changes you while you are playing it but also affects how you are in your day-to-day life.
“First and foremost, especially with the girls team, I’ve grown a lot in empathy, learning how to communicate, to lead and coach young people in their formative years,” Hafen said. “I’ve had to learn how to be less selfish, I’ve had to learn how to listen more, and I’ve had to learn how to care a lot more.”
Soccer can be a very emotional sport that is constantly changing. Players’ hopes can be lifted only to be dashed, and new goals are constantly being set.
“It brings out every possible emotion that you can think of in one game,” Tapia said. “Especially if you’re really, really playing as a whole team and the other team is doing the exact same.”
The team like many others is very close and tries to support and uplift each other. As teammates, they are always trying to work together.
“I love it so much. I just love the environment, we’re all just friends and it’s just such a good environment to be in,” Ence said.
