Written by: Liam Schulte

Finally, spring sports are here! As we round up this last semester and look forward to summer, we have numerous athletes competing in their respective sports. One of those sports being girls soccer.

Soccer is the most popular sport in the world. It takes major skill and knowledge to even have the basics of the sport. The game majorly evolves as you progress in the sport, so playing in high school soccer is an incredible feat for anyone.

Emmi Sullivan (12) is one of those skilled athletes who will be playing this year. As the team captain, it will be her responsibility to keep her teammates motivated and to be a leader; on and off the field. “It’s really weird how the games are. Some of them are very intense, and some of them are really not,” Emmi told The Grizzly Growl this March. Emmi is focused on rivalry games coming up this season, notably at home against Vista on April 20th and the regular season finisher at Chaparral on May 2nd.

Emmi, being in her senior year, is preparing to put a prominent mark on the soccer program here in her final quarter at ThunderRidge. The left-footed captain will continue her career in soccer at the next level, as she will be attending Lamar University, a D1 program in Beaumont, Texas. 

After a 6-1 loss in the season opener to Fossil Ridge on 3/9, the girls regrouped and brought home victories in a 2-1 overtime battle against Pine Creek and a dominant 8-0 victory against Rangeview.

They finish their opening games in March on the 28th when they face Legend in an away game, and then home against Regis Jesuit on 3/30. They then face an action-packed April, in which they play nine games, highlighted by clashes with a game at currently undefeated Highlands Ranch (4/6), and one home against Mountain Vista (4/20). 

As they look forward to competing for their first state championship in 20 years, wish the players and coaches good luck and support them by spectating at games and events.