Varsity Girls Soccer: The Last Match

It was the evening, and we were shivering around an ice-cold table at an In-N-Out which unfortunately lacked indoor seating, listening to Mr. Power’s heartwarming speech about the importance of uploading our athletic clearances, and tears welled up in my eyes. 

Wait. Allow me to rewind. About four years ago, I joined the soccer team because, well, I have always loved playing soccer. I love the adrenaline. Although I like to go on runs, I admit that it isn’t the most enthralling activity. With soccer, however, you’re always running for far longer than you would otherwise, thanks to that adrenaline. So, I joined the team. It was a little scary. I didn’t know anybody. Yet, I quickly found an incredible sense of belonging. After all, you’re playing for your school and with most of the same people every year. 

After almost two hours on the bus, we finally arrived in La Verne for our first play-off match. I was feeling pretty ambivalent about the outcome. I thought that there was a chance this wouldn’t be my last match just yet. Ten minutes in, I hold onto this belief. Maybe after our fourth time kicking off, I start having my doubts. Amelia, by the way, scores the most insane goal ever! It was from about 30-35 yards away, quite literally the best goal of the season. Anyway, by the time 8-1 rolls around, I’m soaking in the last few minutes with the team. Despite what the final score may lead you to believe, might I add, we fought valiantly! I assure you. 

I then hear the all too familiar whistle. Soccer at the Lycée seems to have gone by so quickly. I still remember how bittersweet it was to see the seniors before me at their last matches, and, suddenly, there we were at an In-N-Out, holding roses that will likely die soon, watching the other girls insist that the poster they made be laminated and framed next to the CIF banners in the gym, to which Mr. Power eventually conceded that it could maybe be hung near the bleachers. 

Now, dear readers, because the Roar Newspaper is constantly on my mind and forever will be, as we dined in the freezing cold, I thought to record some of my fellow teammates’ thoughts, asking them how they felt. 

Amelia was the first to answer: “How do I feel?! I feel so incredibly sad that I’m going to be without all of my favorite seniors next year! We have our beautiful forward, our beautiful goalie, our beautiful benchwarmer, and beautiful back-up goalie and striker, and, honestly, this was such a good family year for the team. I feel like I can tell you guys anything,” to which she received many awws. 

Ella agreed, “Everyone’s so nice. It feels so comfortable.” Juliet said, “I’m so sad that the season’s over and I’m sad that we lost. I love you guys!” Finally, Alex declared,  “I’m so sad but I’m so happy because I just ate In-N-Out.” 

Something else worth mentioning about this final match is that we met a woman at the In-N-Out who was flabbergasted by the fact that we were from a French school. She took a selfie with us and then took photos of us like we were celebrities. I think it was her first time seeing real-life French people. She started trying to speak French to us, and, most notably, she said something like, “J’ai deux choses. Une est une rose qui durera un jour mais toi tu es pour toujours.” (“I have two things. One is a rose which will last a day but you will last forever.”) 

Speaking of things that don’t last forever, I also got assassinated right before the match. For those who don’t know, we’re doing “senior assassin” right now—this means that seniors have targets that they have to shoot with a water gun and only goggles (or floaties) can protect you from elimination. Tragically, Juliet betrayed me after we had just confirmed that we could trust each other to take the goggles off. 

This is about to get really cliché, but when I think of what I’ve liked most about the soccer team, it always comes down to the camaraderie that’s born from it. So maybe we’re worn-out after matches (Quincy was especially heroic during this last match as she played while quite sick) and we always have pressing homework for the next day, but in these moments, everybody is carefree. Each year, you become closer with new people, and that’s what I’ve loved about it. I know I’ll miss the night-time bus rides back to the school, singing to either the 80s radio station or to music from our own speaker. 

Now, I see the real reason why I got teary-eyed. It wasn’t because of how beautiful Mr. Power’s speech on athletic clearance was. It was because I’m never going to play with the same people again. Sure, you might play the sport, but it will never be the same team. 

Photo provided by author.

Yet, if you’re sad to say goodbye, that means it was really great. So, if there’s one thing I’d encourage all students to do, it’s to pursue a sport at school. Whether or not it’s a sport you’re passionate about, whether or not you know anybody, just do it. It was one of the best choices I’ve ever made.