It’s no secret that Monte Vista’s varsity girls’ soccer team boasts incredible talent. Ranked an impressive third place in EBAL, the team has dominated this past season. Yet, amidst the fierce competition on the soccer field, there exists a formidable force of sisterhood and camaraderie that propels these skilled athletes forward.
Unlike other sports teams, this one possesses a unanimity that is palpable both on and off the field–perhaps you’ve noticed them in their matching bright red tracksuits around campus. Head varsity coach Christopher Lum sheds light on the unique dynamics that define the team.
“They have really good leadership,” Lum said. “The kids get what we are trying to accomplish, and this might sound strange, but a lot of it’s not really about soccer. So much of their soccer life is wrapped around club season.”
For the athletes, club and school soccer hold varying significance. While club soccer may be more for self-promotion and carving out one’s future, school soccer is more about representing the school and building relationships with teammates. Luana Veras, one of the team captains, illustrates the emphasis on family and inclusion of all girls on the team.
“Part of the stuff that Chris (Lum) preaches, and we as captains preach, is that everyone should be part of the team,” Veras said. “You don’t let cliques get in the way, or friendships. Everyone is friends with each other, and that’s a big part of it.”
Among the many challenges that the short winter season presents, establishing this identity is the most difficult and crucial aspect for the team.
“Working in this compressed time structure is a challenge, so you have to be really, really efficient,” Lum said. “They have to develop their relationships with each other off the field, their relationships with each other on the field, and also a style of play.”
With only a five week season with around two to three games a week, it doesn’t leave a lot of time for the team to train and develop these relationships.
“One of the hardest parts every season is getting to know the new girls and incorporating them into the team,” Veras said. “Making sure we can bond and form that chemistry for our play. And a big part of that comes down to our traditions.”
Traditions like pregame pasta feeds, hair braiding, and warm-ups to “The Eye of the Tiger ” by Survivor are what establish the distinct sisterhood.
“There’s a ridiculous amount of traditions,” Veras said. “People call us crazy. We’re running around in a circle, screaming as loud as we can. But it’s these little things that form the bond and create that chemistry that help us be as successful as we are.”
Beyond these spirited rituals, the players not only form a tight-knit unit but also cultivate essential skills for facing adversity on the soccer field. The coaches aim to provide holistic experiences to further these skills.
“Our goal from the beginning has always been to give them the maximum variety of experience,” Lum said. “That’s disappointment, frustration, success, boredom, and everything in between, like a full spectrum of experiences on the field and off.”
These experiences are necessary for players to be well-equipped and to develop the tools to overcome these situations when it matters most.
Beyond victories, their story is a testament to unity and hard work, and sets a powerful precedent for girls of the next season.
