Team United

Daniela Rana

The luminous sun hid behind the gray clouds as the varsity soccer girls played three games within forty-eight hours. On Friday, 25 August, the soccer girls, along with the volleyball teams and soccer guys traveled to Kuala Lumpur to compete against the International School of Kuala Lumpur’s teams.

“I was impressed by how our team was really united, said Rainbow Chan (12). “From the bleachers to the field, we’d cheer and stay united, rooting for one another.”

The first part of the soccer season kicked off with a game against ISKL’s junior varsity team. Fifteen minutes into the game, Kalia Brewster (9) took a corner kick, to which Dael Kim (10) trapped and struck a goal. Kim’s (10) eyes sparkled and her teammates all ran to her and trapped her with bear hugs. Ten minutes into the second-half of the game, Esther Tse (10) chested the ball into the goal off a corner kick, which gave her the nickname as “Esther the chester.”

The whistle blew and the varsity girls walked off the field with delight in their hearts.

Sara Chinn (10) smiled as she gained confidence playing as the sweeper of the team, clearing balls that provoked the defense line. After a brief talk from Coach Frohlich, she talked about a Lebanese restaurant to have dinner. So the girls freshened themselves after playing in the humid, warm field. After dinner, the team rested for the two games in morning.

By six in the morning, rain poured from the heavens. The chilly atmosphere brought a refreshing start to the game, which began at nine-thirty. After warming up, the girls prepared for another game against the ISKL JV team. Five minutes into the first half, Mandy Lim (11) got the ball and scored a goal. At first half, the athletes battled raindrops; then ISKL was able to find their momentum and scored two goals in the last fifteen minutes of the game. Results of the third game ended with ISKL winning 2-1 against the varsity soccer girls.

The humid weather, sore muscles, and the heart to learn and play gave the girls a yearning to keep playing the game of soccer. Grace Chang (12) said, “Girls, you played your very best, and I am very proud of you guys for stepping it up, giving it your all on the field.

Elspen Chin (9) said, “We as a team were able to play our first games and support each other. Our team was able to learn a lot about our strengths and weaknesses.” Being one as a team brought the team to understand the strengths and weakness, and, overall, brought smiles to the new team of the varsity soccer girls.