After amazing success in the fall sports season, the winter sports teams definitely have some pressure. The girls’ soccer team has some rather high goals.Taylor Magliarditi, captain of the girls’ soccer team said, “last season, we didn’t do as well as we expected.”

However, despite not getting past the first round of CIF, Magliarditi still looks on the bright side.  She said, “I think, overall, we grew as a team a lot from that experience and that’s what matters most.”

Last year, the team faced many challenges, especially against the soccer teams from St. Margaret’s and Crean Lutheran.

Within the team itself, Magliarditi said, “I think playing cohesively and learning the way each other plays was our biggest problem, and I think that’s going to be overcome this season because we’re a lot closer after a year of struggling.”

When asked about what she thought of this upcoming season, Taylor said, “yeah, I think this season will be a lot better. We’re [much] more familiar with each other, and we’re going to have some really good leadership on this team from a lot of juniors, underclassmen, and seniors. I think we’re going to do better in CIF than last year, and in our  season overall.”

As for more specific ambitions regarding the new season, Magliarditi said, “I think a concrete goal is definitely getting past first round of CIF, for us … and beating St. Margaret’s and Crean Lutheran.” I think we can all agree that the rest of Sage will also be rooting for them.

On the boys’ soccer team, this year gives the possibility of a new beginning, with their new coach.

Brett “Chase” Munger said, “last year, the coach wasn’t… doing us any favors. His attitude and whatnot.”

As a result, the boys on the team decided to be proactive, and Munger said, “a few of us went into Sports, and we talked to Katie Chase and Megan Sid about getting a new coach, and luckily, it came through.”

Munger said, “we got a new coach and he’s looking very good, this year, so far, and he’s very optimistic about our approach to the game, now. It should be a huge improvement from last year.”

He also said that last year, “we didn’t do as [well] as we had hoped. We had a good team, lot of skill, but we didn’t even make it to CIF, which is a huge bummer. We lost to St. Margaret’s, both times … and this year, I haven’t been able to practice yet, due to my concussion, but I have a bunch of friends on the team and they’re saying that they have a lot of potential and some good underclassman that will help contribute later in the season”

After a rough season, the boys’ team is looking to respond with a big year.  They are excited to get started and see what they can do.

Munger said, “this season, I think we’ll go more offensive, not really defensive like the past few years … this year, we’re trying to win stuff, trying to get to the semifinals of CIF and see how we can progress throughout the year. It’s a slow start, of course, since we haven’t played with each other for a while, but I think it should be good … we should definitely be good this year.”

Well, we hope the same. Best of wishes to the boys’ and girls’ soccer teams!