Securing crucial wins left and right, consistently scoring and preventing goals, LM girls soccer is having a great start to their season this year! Despite losing a whopping eleven seniors since last year, the team has had a strong 6-1 start and is ready to make up for these losses with yet another exceptional season. Despite the team’s overall youth and inexperience, they have been striving for success with the ultimate goal of avenging their heartbreaking losses in districts last year. Last season, girls soccer was led by talented seniors Elly Slensky ’23, Grace Downey ’23, and Sadie Cohen ’23, who have all continued playing soccer in college. The past season ended with devastating losses in round two of districts and a playback game that could have sent them to states.
This young team is now ambitiously fighting their way up to districts. In their first seven games, they only allowed two goals so far and scored a staggering total of 20 goals. Led by their fearsome captains center forward Kylee Gust ’24 and defenders Casey Forman ’25 and Alex Dore ’24, the team has been rigorously training its new players, preparing them to carry the torch. Forman stated, “Despite losing 11 seniors, we have adjusted quickly and have incorporated new players well.”
The role of coaching this team to success falls on the shoulders of Coach Kevin Ries and Brian Coach Feeney. Left wing Dylan Steinberg ’26 says, “Something that sets them apart from other coaches is that they put a lot of effort into scouting our opponents and creating a game plan for each match.” The coaches have been exceptional this year, especially considering the amount of new players, and they have been holding the team to high standards.
While the coaches do have to train their new players, the task isn’t completely their onus. It is also the responsibility of the returning upperclassmen – one they have gladly accepted. Girls soccer is currently striving to make it past districts and get a shot at states. In regards to their potential to do so, and maybe even winning states, center midfielder Alexa Braslow ’26 says, “It is definitely possible. We have a good mix of experienced, young players that are contributing to the team’s success.” The team is very talented and has the potential for greatness as long as they keep working and playing hard. Starting with a similar record to last year’s campaign, the girls soccer team is giving this 2023 fall season their everything, despite challenging Central League matches approaching in their near future. They have already had a hardfaught loss against Garnet Valley, yet they remain fighting. The pressing question of this season persists: does this young and talented team have what it takes to fight their way past districts to states and finally bring home the trophy that their predecessors could not?
