To kick off their new season, the girls soccer team faced Francis Lewis High School on their home field, Kissena Park on September 9. The Hawks lost 5-1.

Throughout the eighty minute game, THHS fought hard. Yet, Francis Lewis scored four goals in the first half and finished the game off with five. Senior goalie Stephanie Yeh had a strong game with ten saves and junior Dina Goodger scored THHS’s only goal from a series of strong passes from the forwards.

As a team THHS  took initiative, stepping up and making stops even when the score was against them. They paid the price in bruises and earned compliments from the very aggressive Francis Lewis team.

As the team warmed up Coach Sioukas commented, “It’s a tough test. This is a good team we’re going up against.”

Despite the team’s pre-game jitters and the memory of last year’s tough loss against Francis Lewis, sophomore Samantha Jaloza had faith in her team saying, “We’re nervous because they’re tough competition but we’ve definitely progressed and grown as a team.”

Just before the starting eleven took the field, senior captain Nicole Gleizer said, “We always put everything we have on the field.” Her teammates agreed.

After the game ended, Nicole was optimistic.

“I think this game was a great way to start the season because it put us right up against our toughest competition. We can only go up from here,” she said.

With similar hope, past captain and recent alum Athina Mihaliadis said, following her final game, “I think they will step up and continue to play their hearts out as they did the past season. They will excel and do great. I have no doubt.”

Although today was not their finest moment, the girls soccer know that this game was only the beginning.