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If anyone is surprised by the Steward teams this year, it would have to be the Girl’s Varsity Soccer team. The season just ended with their record as 4 wins, 5 losses, and 3 ties. While at first glance this may not seem very good, it was a surprising step up for the girls. Last year the team only won one game, and the year before they finished winless. When asked about their thoughts on the girl’s team, Sam Henderson said, “It was a complete turn around,” and Claire Mckeown said, “I’m incredibly confused (about it) because our girls’ team has been so bad in the past”.
To add to the surprise, the team won the LIS tournament. The semifinal game took place at Fredericksburg Academy. After playing through regulation to a stalemate, the teams went into double overtime. In the extra period no one managed to score a goal. Each team then chose five players for penalty kicks to decide the match. Penalty kicks are taken from 12 yards away. For Steward, the line up consisted of Lauren Saurs, Morgan Schroeder, Keaton Busser, Samantha Henderson, and Sarah Shimer. Luckily, Seward only had to take four shots because we made all of them and the other team missed two. So, the Spartans then advanced to the finals against St. Anne’s Belfield (STAB). Previously, we had lost to them 6-1.
After 90 minutes of aggressive play, the two teams were tied 1-1, so once again the team went into overtime and penalty kicks. After scoring three out of the five shots, the Spartans managed to defeat STAB and win the LIS Tournament for the first time in Steward history! The trophy was presented to Coach Rice and now occupies a prominent place in the Athletic Center.
After winning the tournament, the team waited in suspense to see if they would make the state tournament. In order to make it, each team has to receive enough votes from the VISSA. Unfortunately, we did not receive enough votes. However, none of the teams from our division made the cut. Despite that disappointment, many underclassmen will be returning next year, giving the team a positive outlook for the future.
– Sarah, Kendall, and Lauren
