Senior Night with Women’s Soccer

By: Ciera Sesock

On Tuesday, April 27, 2021, Women’s Varsity soccer hosted their annual Senior Night at Redwood High School. It took place at 6 PM, before their home match against Lemoore High School. The Redwood girls won the game 12-0. 

Every year, Senior Night is a bittersweet game where Seniors are honored for their continuous roles on the Redwood soccer team. They are spoken highly of and given gifts to cherish their last few games of the season. 

With the season and their school year coming to an end, each of the four Seniors will miss Redwood, but they each look forward to starting their lives and following new paths in college. The four soccer Seniors this year are Sydney Somavia, Kelsey Konishi, Ashley Todd, and Elizabeth Vandersluis. 

Sydney Somavia

Somavia has been playing Redwood Varsity soccer since her Freshman year. She says, “Redwood has had a really big impact on my life. Being involved in sports has allowed me to meet so many people and make countless, unforgettable memories”. Redwood soccer has been a really important part of her high school career. “I’m definitely starting to get emotional thinking about both, Senior Night and the end of the season”. She explained that when she was a Freshman she used to look up to the Seniors, and it is just surreal to her that she is now a Senior, who is about to graduate. 

According to Somavia, she plans on attending the University of Mississippi. She was offered a spot on their D1 soccer squad, however, she declined so that she could pursue a career in nursing. She is majoring in nursing, and therefore taking on a huge workload. 

Despite not playing soccer in college, Somavia is looking forward to meeting new people and experiencing every aspect of the college life. “I’m going to miss the atmosphere at Redwood. The school spirit and energy is just unmatched in my eyes.”

Kelsey Konishi

Konishi has also been a four-year member of Redwood’s Varsity soccer team. Konishi believes that “Redwood soccer will go down as the most memorable part of [her] high school journey.” She explained that she has met many interesting people and learned so much along the way that she will carry with her into her future. 

Konishi has been a soccer player since she was three, and according to her, “nearing the end of the season makes me sad that I won’t be able to continue the soccer legacy that Redwood has built up.” However, she did explain that she is confident with the mark that she is leaving on Redwood, and she is excited to see where the team will be taken after she is away at college. 

Next year, Konishi is going to Cal Poly SLO as an Administration major. She explains that she is open to playing intramural sports, but she will mostly be focusing on her education and following her career path. 

As Konishi plays her final games at Redwood, she “would just like to thank Jason Vieira, Jeff Vieira, and Maddie Messier for giving [her] the best four years of [her] life in the soccer program.” She hopes to take what they have taught her and apply it into her life at college and in her future. 

Ashley Todd

Like Somavia and Konishi, Todd explains that Redwood soccer has been a huge part of her life for a long time. She explains that she has been attending the games since she was a kid. “I’ve played since Sophomore year and I’ve loved every day of it”. 

According to Todd, “Even after bad days at school I could go to practice and laugh with the girls [that] I love to be around.” She feels like she is in denial that she is nearing the end of the soccer season and her graduation. However, she looks forward to her future.

Todd is going to Fullerton in Los Angeles and plans to play intramural soccer. She is not looking to play serious soccer, but she wants to have fun playing the sport that she loves. 

“Yes, I am going to miss the closeness of [Redwood], but I know it is a fun step for my future. I love this team and I am glad I got to be a part of it.”

Elizabeth Vandersluis

Vandersluis has played Redwood soccer since her Sophomore year, and it has definitely become a huge part of her life. “I love being a part of the team and [I love] all my teammates.”

According to Vandersluis, “I am excited for Senior Night and its traditions.” She explained that she is sad that it is getting closer to the end of her high school soccer career, but she plans to give it her all until the final whistle blows in her last game. 

Vandersluis plans to attend a 4-year university, but her college of choice is still undecided. “I don’t plan to play at the collegiate level, but I do want to play at the intramural level.”

Vandersluis loves Redwood, and believes that it will always remain a part of her. However, she is “ready to leave and start [her] adult life”.

Varsity Redwood soccer will miss their Seniors, but they are excited to see where their futures will take them. 

Tags: cierasesock, rangers, Redwood, redwood gigantea, redwood girls soccer, redwood journalism, redwood sports, senior night, varsity girls soccer, varsitygirls