Nine months ago, the Benjamin Girls soccer team was crowned FSHAA Class 2A state champions. This marked the program’s first state title. A new season has begun, and the girls are looking to play hard all the way back to Deland.
A large group of seniors make up the core of the team: Sienna Barboni, Jules Bartoli, Chase Zur, Iris Hoffman, Caroline Welke, Kate Quinlivin, Makenna Bristow, Cassidy Walsh, Kenna Kuawa, and Jules Bartoli. They hope to lead the Bucs to more victories, yet they have a goal bigger than winning games: to leave a lasting impact on the other girls and on Benjamin Athletics as a whole.
“All the seniors are working to leave an impact on the program through creating an environment where players are excited to come to practice, games, participate in team activities, and foster growth. I think the younger players look up to us, and stepping up for them means being there for them when they have questions and offering advice. I feel confident we can make it far again this season. A state title is not out of our reach if we work hard,” said Sienna Barboni.
During tryouts, the team hit a snag. One of the graduates was the goalie, and no one who tried out could fill the position. Mackenzie Bryan, a former JV player, stepped up to the goal post this season.
“I’ve hardly played soccer at all, so this is definitely a big change for me. Thankfully, the team has been so supportive, and they all take care of me despite my inexperience,” said Bryan. “I’ve always played volleyball, and some parts of volleyball have definitely helped. The reaction time I have from volleyball has been super helpful, for example. Unfortunately, it’s also hurt me a bit because. You dive as both a goalie and a volleyball player, but the way you dive is completely different. It’s tough to get out of the habit I’ve learned from volleyball.”
Training for this season consisted of three words: build, build, build. The returning players honed their skills while helping the newcomers acclimate. There is a strong slate of upcoming leaders, including the underclassmen.
Freshman Lily Stanis was the only eighth-grade player on the team last year. She returns with a veteran’s mindset.
“My goals going forward are to make any eighth graders and freshmen feel just as welcomed as I did. Another goal for me is to have a strong season, not just individually, but as a team,” said Stanis. “The training process has been very good ever since the first practice of the season. We have developed socially and physically along with on and off the soccer field as a whole. This year, many freshmen and even an eighth grader have stepped up to help the team make it to states again.”
Sophomore Emma Bartoli scored the winning goal at the state championship last March.
“The season so far has been fun but demanding. We have a team of mostly attackers, so training defense has been a big priority,” said Bartoli. “Having won states last year put a target on our backs. Other schools assume we play at a higher intensity than other opponents. This time last year, our season was not going well at all. Yet, we still ended up winning states.”
Despite their best efforts, the Bucs still face threats on the road to the state championship. Teams such as American Heritage and Somerset Academy have well-ranked programs and players. The girls’ soccer team has played five games so far. They tied a preseason game 1-1 against Wellington High School on Nov. 6, with a goal scored by Sienna Barboni. They also took down the Gulliver Preparatory Raiders on Nov. 10 at the home opener, 1-0. After a long drive to Miami, they lost 4-3 to St. Andrews on Nov. 12. The record stands 2-4-1 after a win against Vero Beach High School and a loss against Cardinal Newman.
Soccer season is a long one. Hopefully, January and February will be filled with memorable moments.
