The BSM girls’ soccer team is up and running with 10 new players, bringing their total of underclassmen players up to 14. The varsity team consists of two eighth-graders, one-ninth grader, eleven tenth graders, three juniors, and only three seniors. Despite the high number of new players, the team has maintained a record of 4 -1- 4. 

With 70% of their team being underclassmen, the team has changed immensely since last year. “It’s definitely a different dynamic because the team is so young, and we are lacking senior leadership, but I really think the upperclassmen have stepped up to lead our team to success,” senior captain Frida Fortier said.

Like most players, the underclassmen feel a lot of pressure. Focusing on impressing the coaches and upperclassmen, many underclassmen get nervous before games. “Every game I get nervous,” sophomore Ashton Lowenberg said. 

With the girls’ soccer team being so successful in past years, playing in the state tournament nine times in the past thirteen years, the players have a lot to live up to. “It’s kinda stressful and you feel like you have to live up to the reputation of the people before you,” sophomore Elizabeth Dietzen said. 

The underclassmen sometimes are intimidated by a couple of the older girls because of their skills and intensity; they don’t want to let the team down or embarass themselves. “Meagan [Watts, sophomore player,] often uses the term ‘know your place,’ and I think she’s joking, but you really never know, so you never want to get too confident––otherwise, you might get shut down,” sophomore Tilly Wolfe said. 

Perhaps, however, the nerves are a bit more bearable for these underclassmen because they feel more comfortable knowing others are going through the same thing. “I see [my teammates] a lot in the hallways, and it makes me less scared to do dress up because I know I’ll have people in my class,” Dietzen said. 

Despite these stresses, the younger girls enjoy being on the team playing with older girls. The returning players help them and push them to perfect their game. “I like playing with the older people because I think they help me get better,” Dietzen said. 

The upperclassmen leaders have also been helpful to the younger players off the field. “It’s cool having older girls, they are kinda like mentors,” Lowenberg said. 

Of course, a team made up of so many young players can’t help but look to the future of the team. In just two years, the team will be filled with experienced players. “I think we are going to be really good next year and the year after,” Dietzen said.