Girls Soccer Dominates their season
The Edgewood Girls Soccer season is almost finished, and the girls have proven their merit.
The team is undefeated so far this season, having won all twelve of their games. In the first game, they beat rival West Shore 5-2. They also beat Melbourne, and got a free dub against Space Coast due to a forfeit. They walloped Astronaut in 9-1 game where Gianna Lopez, 9, was named best player of the game. In the next two weeks the girls crushed Cocoa Beach by eight goals, and won a nail-biter against Satellite 2-1. Piper Miller, 10, earned player of the game against Cocoa and Nina Lopez, 10, received player of the game against Satellite. Next, they beat Titusville 4-1, and Nina won another player of the game award. Two days later they destroyed Titusville 8-0, and Andrea Toledo, 10, won player of the game for her outstanding performance. Finally, in a much-hyped game against Merritt Island, the girls took an easy 2-0 dub. Stephanie Burke, 11, won player of the game for her impressive work as the team's goalie.
"We’re having a great season, and we have very high expectations," said Coach Eddie Al-Shihabi. "We are hoping, and think we will go deep in the playoffs this year.”
There's no doubt in anyone's mind that the girls are going to have a great time in the playoffs- their undefeated record stands for itself. But the players also remember to appreciate and enjoy their sport.
"This season has been so fun! We are undefeated and playing so well,” said Nina.
Part of the reason that the team is 12-0 is because of how exceptional the players on the field are. This team has so many strengths, and not very many weaknesses.
"A good portion of our players are very skilled, technical players,” said Coach Al-Shihabi.
Besides their skills, there's also the girls' teamwork to think about. Being good friends helps them to maintain a close-knit team on and off the field.
"When we are all working together, we have a good chemistry between the girls,” said Miller.
They translate those communication skills, as well as the athletic skills that they learn in practice, and blow teams out on the field.
When the girls are not in a game, they are working very hard to improve their game and sharpen their skills at practice.
"I try to give them practices that challenge them to use their head, not their muscles," said Coach Al-Shihabi. "We need to play hard, but we also need to play smart and disciplined.”
The team has a lot of talented players. The team scored a total of 35 goals through their first seven games played. 16 of those goals came from two players, Gianna and Miller, who both had eight respectively. Toledo scored six times, and Nina scored four times as well. Since then, the players have improved their skills even further, and today their statistics are even more impressive.
The girls are almost through their regular season, and the playoffs are sure to be a big challenge for the team. But there's no doubt but that they are up to the challenge. They are a great team with the potential to go deep into the playoffs this year.
This is Brady’s first year on staff and his first year at Edgewood. He loves fishing, roller coasters, and sports. He hopes his enthusiasm for sports will inspire other people to love them as well.