Unity, Cohesion and Singleness of Purpose

Emma Hofer

"Girls, we got this. We have trained an entire year for this moment, and we want this more than anyone else. All that we have done will be poured into the next few minutes of this game. Now we will have to summon the willpower from within to push forward and win,” varsity women’s football captain Sabrina Ly’s (12) words resonated with the squad of sixteen players who stood around her.

Over the past three days of the Asian Christian School Conference (ACSC) tournament and the past seven months of the school year, the girls had endured painful sessions of conditioning and disheartening losses against the JV boys’ team that had contributed to their successes in the tournament.

"Having a split season, one part from August to October, the other from March to April, really spurred us on and kept us looking forward to the April tournament in Guam,” said Mackenzie Jordan (12). “We were encouraged and motivated to work hard in the offseason and because of that, we started off the second part of the season in excellent shape.”

They spent each Friday scrimmaging against and losing to the Junior Varsity boys, which benefitted them for the ACSC tournament as they were able to anticipate a quickened speed of play against their opponents.

The second part of the season took place at the same time as other important events, such as the JSB and the Senior Transition Retreat; but the girls kept their eye on the team goal they had collectively made at the start of the season: to place at least third in the ACSC tournament, a competition which included six other teams.

The trip to Guam included stops and long layovers in Singapore and Manila, and the girls anticipated early morning games under Guam’s blazing sun. The girls arrived a day early and held a practice on the football field of the host school, Saint Paul’s Christian School, before attending the opening ceremony that night.

The next few days involved sharing a crowded bathroom with the Faith Academy team, going on early morning runs to the supermarket for breakfast, having laughter-filled car conversations with the coaches, Mrs. Robin Frohlich and Mr. Kerry Mahoney, playing two games each day on the windy field in Dededo, watching The Jungle Book in the Micronesia Mall with the other teams, and relaxing afterwards in the food court while eating sandwiches at Submarina or burritos at Taco Bell.

By the third day of the tournament, the team had lost to International Christian School of Hong Kong, had tied both Saint Paul and YISS (Yongssan International School of Seoul), and had beaten Grace International School, Morrison Academy, and, finally, the undefeated Faith Academy to ensure a spot in the third-fourth place game.

After losing to ICS earlier on the third day, they knew that in order to meet the team goal they  would have to beat Faith Academy, a team that had beaten every other team by at least two points who went on to win first place. The girls knew they had the capability to do so, but it took a lot of focus and determination from each player to make it happen.

The next day, the Lady Eagles started their game at 11:00 am. The players’ nerves wore off as a goal in the early part of the second half ensured their victory, or so they thought. With thirty seconds left of regulation, a YISS player scored, rendering the game a 1-1 draw.

Overtime commenced and the score remained tied. After two five-minute halves, the whistle blew and a feeling of dread crept through each player’s mind.

After five players from each team took penalty kick shots in the shootout, the score sat at 2-2. This meant that a goal from either team would automatically win them third place.

Shannon Frohlich (9), the sixth shooter, struck the ball past the grasp of the YISS goalie, but so did YISS’ sixth player on Dalat goalie Sabrina Ly (12).

Aimee Buhr (8), the team’s lone middle schooler nailed the seventh shot into the corner. As she ran back to her team, they all held hands, hoping that their anxiety would soon cease. And so it did. The seventh YISS player shot high, and the field went wild. Players laughed, cried, and hugged one another as they realized that they had reached their goal.

“This team displayed some of the best unity, cohesion and singleness of purpose that I have witnessed in my coaching career. I loved the way they were inclusive of everyone on the team, the way they took care of their bodies off the field by eating healthy, re-hydrating, and getting to bed early, and to top it off these girls had fun. I don’t think I’ve heard as much laughter as I heard last week in a long time,” said Coach Robin Frohlich.