Review of the CPS Women's Soccer Team

By Vick A. '27

The cold breeze ripped through Tom Bates Field, but the warmth emanating from the College Prep’s sideline section was undeniable. On a momentous Friday night, under the glow of the lights, the Girls' Varsity Soccer team celebrated their senior night. As the final whistle blew, sealing a decisive and emotional 3-0 victory against Making Waves Academy, three seniors, the critical pillars of this year's squad, walked off the turf for one of the very last times on their home field. 

Through a torrent of heartfelt hugs, laughter, and a whole lot of bittersweet tears, the celebration was infused with the emotion of a family bidding farewell to their children as they leave for college. The depth of this emotional outpouring was the clearest testament to the true nature of this team: a squad forged by shared experience, mutual respect, and a bond that runs deeper than any formation.

The creation of such a strong bond was not an overnight process. In fact, it was built amidst an environment of incredible upheaval. Over the past three seasons, the team has faced an unprecedented level of turnover, having weathered a combined total of seven different coaches. No single head coach has managed to remain at the helm for longer than a single season. Every change results in a new coach-player relationship, new tactics, and a new approach. Most teams don’t experience this much change in a decade, and this team has endured it in the span of three years. However, despite the ever-constant change, the team has built a culture that can endure even the most drastic formation changes or training regime shifts. Junior Elsa Yeh captured this sentiment, describing how “no matter who our coach is or what our season may hold, the team is and always has been a welcoming place for girls from every grade. It's a joy to be a part of."

That mindset demanded more than optimism. It demanded discipline, intensity, and a belief that they could overcome any adversity in their path. For this team, perseverance didn’t show itself through crazy goals or highlights (although they did have plenty of those). They showcased their perseverance when they clawed back from a 1-0 deficit against Moreau Catholic, transforming the game into a gripping 3-2 thriller victory. It was on display as they navigated a challenging patch of tough losses against formidable opponents like Head-Royce and Bentley, only to respond immediately by dominating Athenian 2-0. Individual players embodied this tenacity: notably, star striker Ana Sayer battled through a painful ankle injury to net four crucial goals across five matches, demonstrating a winner's resolve. Furthermore, the entire team showed up to practice in conditions so horrid—bitter cold, thundering sheets of rain, and gusts of wind so strong they would knock you off your feet—that every other outdoor sport on campus had canceled their sessions. For a team that has been through more than enough to give many high school athletes nightmares, they still manage to consistently impress. “We just push through because that’s what we do, and that’s the kind of person that College Prep creates,” elucidated Elsa Yeh. “We just rally together and work hard to be our best selves, and that often involves fighting through tough moments.”

So, as I, along with the many witnesses in the crowd, watched the team cap off their impressive senior night victory, it was impossible not to feel a profound sense of pride and a genuine smile. As the three seniors stepped off the pitch, in a powerful symbol of continuity and legacy, three freshmen stepped onto the field to replace them.

Despite enduring all too many ups and downs, the family-like culture and refusal to give up or back down have not just survived but thrived. The spirit of the team has been carried from one class to the next, and as the freshmen took their place on the field, they also took their place in carrying on this legacy. The future is exceptionally bright for College Prep Women's Soccer.