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Girls’ soccer, 5–1–2, looks to build on their momentum in their match-up against the University Wildcats at home today.
In recent years, the Gondoliers have performed very well against University, often winning by more than five goal margins, according to coach Chaka Forman.
Despite the gap in quality, however, the team aims to give 110% against every team they face, according to Forman.
“We approach every match with the same game plan. We want to work hard, support each other, and we want to be the team that wants it the most,” said Forman. “We feel like if we do that, everything else falls into place.”
The team secured a 1–0 victory against the Hamilton Yankees last Friday and managed a historic 0–0 draw against the Palisades Dolphins last Wednesday–a team that has beat Venice on every occasion since 2007.
“Pali is considered one of the best teams in the city,” said Forman. “So the way we look at it is: if they can’t beat us, then where does that put us?”
“We’ve been led by a very strong defensive line including players such as sophomore Somer Staley and senior Sepalle Nseke, who have done a great job.”
Forman also highlights senior Ariana Carillo, who is the team’s leading scorer and the catalyst behind many of their victories.
However, nothing worth fighting for comes without setbacks. After a 3–0 non-league loss to the San Pedro Pirates Monday, the team realizes that certain aspects of their squad could use improvement.
“Little mistakes cost us the game. No one was trusting each otherwith the ball, and our finishing was a problem. This all comes down to team chemistry,” Carillo said.
Injuries to both offensive and defensive players have also been a challenge for the team to push through.
Nonetheless, soccer is a team sport, and the focal point should be the mentality of the collective, not the individual, according to Carillo.
“Our biggest weakness is that we haven’t had enough time to show who we really are,” said Forman. “And we’re coming together as a team in terms of rallying around our common goals.”
The “common goal” that they’re yearning for? “Winning the city championship,” said Forman.
The Gondoliers consistently reach Division 1 playoffs nowadays, a meteoric rise from their Division 5 standing five seasons ago.
“We come into every year expecting to be the best team in the city, and we know we have to prove that on the field. Nobody’s going to give that to us,” Forman said.
