Senior Soccer Girls Celebrate A Win On Their Night

By: Kenzie Collins – Staff Editor

On Thursday night, January 31st 2019, RHS girls soccer not only had their senior night, but celebrated a win against El D. With the score 2-1, the team added yet another win to their record and they won WYL for the 8th consecutive year. They still play again Wednesday at Mt. Whitney to finish off their regular season before heading into playoffs.

Rangers, Brianna Lopez, ’19, Megan James, ’19, and Jill Nelsen, ’19, all shared the win together as the three senior girls on the Redwood Girls Varsity soccer team. In addition to it being a bonus to win on senior night, the success was a big accomplishment for all the girls.

After talking to the girls when the game was over, this is what they had to say.

Q: How long have you been on varsity?
Lopez: “Three years.”
James: “I’ve been on varsity for 2 years.”
Nelsen: “I’ve been on varsity since my freshman year, so 4 years.”

Q: How long have you been playing soccer?
L: “A long time, I’m not really sure how many years.”
J: “I have been playing soccer since I was 5 years old.”
N: “I’ve been playing soccer since I was 3 years old. So that should be almost 15 years.”

Q: What are some highlights at your time with RHS Soccer?
L: “I’ve had a lot of fun with my friends. I like making all the soccer girls my best friends, it’s just super fun.”
J: “Overall just the people, we’re always just a fun little bunch. We just have a good laugh, always.”
N: “Valley my sophomore year for sure. This is my 8th WYL title so the ones we won are a highlight. And honestly all the friendships I’ve made over the years from freshman year until now. I’ll remember all these girls for the rest of my life.”

Q: What’s something you’d like to tell your coaches & supporters?
L: “I would like to tell my coaches and supporters thanks for the great 3 years and all the memories. High school would not be the same without soccer.”
J: “I would like to tell [them] thank you for always supporting me and coming out here and always believing in us and never giving up on us.”
N: “I’d like to thank my coaches [who] never stopped believing in me and pushing me. And to [those who supported me] for all the love and everything they give me. The support they give me is indescribable.”

Q: Who has been your biggest inspiration throughout your soccer career?
L: “My biggest inspiration has been all of my best friends on the team. I like working with them , they just really keep me going.”
J: “Jefferson has been my biggest inspiration. Gotta love that dude.”
N: “I don’t have just one person who’s been my biggest inspiration, it’s the girls and the coach.”

Q: Do you plan to play soccer in the future? (recreational or otherwise)
L: “No, I don’t plan on playing soccer [in the future].”
J: “I might when I’m an adult just for giggles but probably not in college or anything.”
N: “[I’m playing soccer for] Cal State East Bay up north in Hayward, California.

Q: What legacy do you hope to leave with the team and the players who will continue when you graduate?
L: “I hope all of them remember to have fun because nothing is more important.”
J: “I hope to leave the legacy of me being the biggest hype man and I hope to hand that off to someone.”
N: “I hope I can leave the idea that the [concept] of stats don’t matter, it’s how you leave it out on the field and that you leave 110% every game.”

The three senior girls have been a major aspect to the team as well as the coaching staff. Coach Vieira sees the potential and talent in each of the players. Vieira said, “They’ve put in a lot of time and effort and they accomplished something special.” Winning all the titles that the girls have won is not an easy task, so Vieira wants them to remember all the hard work they put into it.

“They all brought so much life to our team.”
Coach Vieira on the senior girls 2019

Watch all the hard work the senior girls and the rest of the team put onto the field on February 6th against Mount Whitney. Junior varsity starts at 4:30 pm and Varsity starts at 6 pm. Go Rangers!