Girls varsity soccer has been dominating the competition this season. Led by Head Coach Lauren Zallis, their current record is 9-4-1, and they are ranked 37th in the state.
The team had a series of wins at press time. On April 5, the team took down cross town rivals Fenwick High School. On April 7, the team beat St. Viator, with a final score of 3-2. On April 12, the team faced the end of their four game winning streak, according to Max Preps, which ended in a tie with the Bartlett Hawks.
Fortunately, on April 14, the team defeated Downers Grove North, earning the team another win. On April 15, the Huskies lost to Plainfield North in a close game of 2-1. The team shows strong potential for success, standing third in the West Suburban Silver Conference.
Aside from their on-field success, the team has also had success off the field. The team is a diverse mix of students from almost all grades, with 13 seniors setting the tone of the inclusive atmosphere.
Girls soccer is more than just a team; they are a family. The warm environment allows for game-play connectivity, which adds to the flow of the game. Senior Campbell Beasley said, “One day after a game, we went to Fat Duck and stayed there for four hours talking.”
A difficulty has been the team’s strenuous schedule. They have on average two games a week, but their load can be up to four or more games when they participate in tournaments. Soccer, being a fast paced and physically demanding sport, can quickly lead to fatigue, making the bond of the team even more important. They lean on each other when things get tough.
Additionally, the construction has disrupted their regular schedule and training times, giving the team a chance to work on their concentration. The idea of focusing has been a key development this season. Senior Abby Cockerill said, “We’ve seen it in a couple games where we play an amazing first half and then lose focus during the second.”
Rather than focusing on the factors that are out of their control, Coach Zallis says the team is “learning to focus internally on the things that we can. It sounds simple and obvious, but we spend the first five minutes of every training session or game with mindful awareness or breathing.”
Soccer is a team sport; it is impossible to win a soccer match with just one person. This team operates as one unit, Zallis said. “They play hard for each other and recognize that individual success is only the result of your teammates helping you to get there.”
Zallis, who came to OPRF two years ago and has nine years of coaching experience overall, believes that soccer is more than scoring points or assists. She pointed out that the statistics don’t “show you the defender who was able to make a line-breaking pass that leads to a quick transition and a goal scoring opportunity.”
Girls soccer is a reflection of community and group effort to reach a common goal. Keep a lookout for these Huskies and witness their tenacity in real time at one of their upcoming matches. Today, April 28, they face Benet Academy. Tomorrow they face Proviso West.
