While sports take a lot of time, dedication and determination, soccer takes each of these to the next level. Soccer is a lifestyle, and the skills, both physical and mental, take many years to refine.

For varsity captain and sophomore Brittany Little, soccer has been a huge part of her life for many years.

“I’ve been playing soccer since I was three,” Little said. “I drive to Austin three times during the week for practice and I drive there on the weekends for games, too.”

Similar to Little, sophomore Kacy Shea participates in the sport outside of school on a club team. With so much to keep track of, it can be difficult to keep up with school work.

“It’s really hard to get caught back up in complicated classes, especially when you miss as much as two days at a time,” Shea said.

As if good grades weren’t enough to maintain, the season’s success rests on the shoulders of the team, which mostly consists of underclassmen.

“Last year we had ten seniors,” Coach Amy Pettibone said. “It’s uncommon to have as many freshmen and sophomores as we do. We are definitely rebuilding.”

On the varsity team, the presence of younger players has taught Little and Shea how to better communicate on the field.

“On our team, we have a bunch of younger players that are new, so it’s taken us a little while longer to get close, but we’re starting to build team chemistry,” Little said.

As the season continues through May, the varsity team hopes to reach their goals for play offs.

“We control our own destiny,” Pettibone said.