The 2024 Hayesville girls’ soccer team just kicked off their season with a loss against Smoky Mountain on February 29. Although they lost their first game, they have not given up the fight. “We will keep fighting through this season and work hard to get better, one loss will not hurt us if we push each other as a team,” Alondra Garcia (Junior) expressed. The team encourages each other to continue to play to their full potential and not give up. With this being the first game of the season they have a long way to go and the wins will start coming in. Garcia says they have even gotten some new players since their last game that will fit right in to help the girls on and off the field.
Hayesville girls soccer has been improving its program for years, and this year is no exception. With new coaches (Kelley Davis and Jesse Shook), new girls, and a new team they have to find the right puzzle pieces and put them in the right place. Breanna Abrams (Junior) states, “As a team learning how to play the game, staying under control, and having patience is a good start to improving our season. As a team no matter the sport, you could always use more improvement.” Hayesville will always have amazing sports programs and soccer is no exception, “Playing soccer or really any sport for Hayesville High school has always been something I’ve wanted to do since I was in elementary school, with most sports at Hayesville, the teammates are great and everyone gets along, the sportsmanship we have and the bond we all grow from the sport is just something I’ve always enjoyed,” Abrams stated. She says this season will be exciting for sure and she cannot wait for the support of the community at the games.
The team as a whole has commented that the best thing about the soccer team is the way they all are out on the field learning and growing as not only soccer players, but as a team and they can have fun with each other. Abrams states, “Understanding that you’re not going to be perfect out there, nobody is, which is a big part of understanding the game. You can train and train and even then you can still make mistakes.” With the girls knowing they can make a mistake and still have a good game, makes them gain confidence in themselves and the team and fuels the energy to want to get better and win more games. They hear these words from their coach at every practice. “The coaches are really big for our team, they show us what we are supposed to be doing and teach us more and more about the game of soccer. While continuing to encourage us and let us know that messing up is okay as long as you have the mindset of fixing it,” Scarlett Guyette (Freshman) remarked. Scarlette is new to the sport but has a great appreciation for the team and how well they accepted her as a teammate and friend. “I have been a part of many different teams but this team is just different. They are the best girls I have met and continue to help me get better,” Guyette says.
*There have been games since this article was written. Look on the MaxPreps website for the 2024 Soccer Schedule*