As October’s autumn leaves began their descent, gently carpeting Kent’s campus, girls varsity soccer emerges, capturing the essence of a season that, while not without its trials and tribulations, distinguishes the team’s admirable performance as the fall term steadily edges towards its conclusion.
As the girls’ varsity soccer team commenced their 2023 season, the competition has revealed progression which transcends a mere sequence of games. The team has navigated a series of challenging games, resulting in a current record of 1-6-3, with their solitary win coming against Canterbury.
Coach Pena, bringing novel guidance in her inaugural year as the team’s coach, shares her perspective on the gradual transformation and continuous progress specific to Kent’s girls’ varsity soccer team throughout the season. “When I think about the progress this season,” remarks Coach Pena, “it’s astonishing given that many of the players have developed so much as soccer players and have begun to view themselves as such, which is awesome.” In spite of the win-loss record, Coach Pena considers this a successful season. “Historically, we have found more success this season than before. That is a product of them developing and finding their confidence in the sport.” The team’s collective maturation throughout the fall, as observed by Coach Pena, has aided numerous players in the significant advancement of their skills, and more importantly, simultaneously embracing their distinctive roles as soccer players.
Led by captains Megan Duplantie ’24, Mia Montanari ’24, and Stella Sweitzer ’25, the fall season has been characterized by notable development in a season that has brought both challenges and triumphs. In describing the team’s progress, Montanari noted, “It’s way more positive, with the energy better than last year. We’re more serious, it’s a mix of making sure everyone’s head is in it.” Similarly, this positive shift is not solely limited to the confines of the team’s mood, but extends to performance as well. “Even when the scores are less rewarding,” observes Sweitzer, “every game is a much tighter contest than last year. We’re competing at much higher levels than we have before.”
Echoing these sentiments, Coach Pena similarly underscores the team’s characteristic ability in “bouncing back” and “being resilient,” alongside its manifestation into on-field performance throughout the season. “They want to win, they pick each other up, and they care about one another. The teamwork centers around everyone of them wanting to be better everyday, moving towards that goal while still being kind and laughing. That’s something I can’t coach.”
The composition of the team, unlike many of its adversaries, consists of a unique blend of athletes possessing diverse sporting backgrounds. Captain Stella Sweitzer emphasizes this distinction, stating, “We are a very athletic team, but no one’s main sport is soccer.” Opponents such as Westminster, a “huge challenge” during competition according to Sweitzer, exemplify a common structure in soccer teams as they predominantly consist of club players with a sole focus on soccer. As captain Mia Montanari observes, “Most teams are all club players, yet our team is a mix of other sports and athletes.” Not solely anchored in traditional soccer roles, Kents girls’ varsity soccer team is faced with a unique set of challenges as they prepare to confront opponents hailing from focused club-based backgrounds. Playing within the Founders League, “one of the most competitive leagues amongst private schools,” according to Coach Pena, necessitates further adaptability and innovation as the team continues to remain competitive in a league within which specialized and club-based opponents are the norm. Yet Coach Pena remarks on the team’s steadfast resolve, stating, “I’ve been really impressed with how the team has stepped up to the challenge.” Aware of these trials awaiting them, the team remains resolute as they brace for an upcoming series of challenging games. “We’re looking at some of our hardest games that are coming up,” notes Montanari, “So we’re focusing on playing well, competing, and not letting it get to you.”
Captain Megan Duplantie expands upon the team’s determination: “Our team plays very well against other good teams because we always bring our game to another level in order to compete against them.” Reflecting on the team’s season-long commitment to improvement, their collective desire in elevating performance to its highest standard underscores the team’s dedication in encountering each game with the utmost effort. As Kents girls’ varsity soccer team navigated the ebbs and flows of this season, Coach Pena wholly encapsulates the team’s overall approach: “Every single game we are fixing and improving so that we end the season playing the best soccer we possibly can.”
