The girls soccer team lost to Notre Dame 3-1 in the CIF Southern Section Championship on Feb. 18. The team finished their season and placed second in the mission league, with an overall record of 12-5-4 and 6-2-2 in Mission League play.
Midfielder Sylvie Graines ’27 said the year was competitive and developmental.
“We had a really fun and competitive season,” Graines said. “Although we had some losses, we were resilient and learned a lot from them.”
One of the defining moments came on the road during the regular season against Notre Dame. Trailing 2-0 and later 3-1, the Wolverines created a comeback that changed the team’s confidence moving forward, tying the game 3-3. Graines said the win was crucial in showing the team that they were capable of coming back from a disadvantaged position, even mid-game.
“Our comeback game against Notre Dame at their home field defined our identity,” Graines said. “It helped build our confidence for the rest of the season and showed us what we are capable of.”
Goalkeeper Sasha Selvaggio ’27 said the team’s first playoff game against San Clemente was another key performance.
“Our first playoff game against San Clemente really defined our team’s identity because we came out strong, set the tone early and earned a big win,” Selvaggio said.
A major emphasis this season was the team’s “webbing” technique, a system in which three to four players aggressively attack balls in the air to secure possession. Graines said the approach played to the team’s athleticism.
“Our coaches emphasized ‘webbing,’” Graines said. “It’s helped us get so many balls in the air, and because we have a really fast and athletic team, it’s been especially productive.”
While strategy played a key role, both players emphasized that chemistry ultimately helped the team’s progress. Selvaggio said the connection between upperclassmen and underclassmen improved performance on the field.
“Our biggest strength has been how close we are on and off the field,” Selvaggio said. “That helps us trust and support each other.”
Graines said that the chemistry evolved throughout the season.
“At the beginning, we didn’t have as much team chemistry and it was really individuals working for the team,” Graines said. “But toward the end of the season, we started connecting really well and playing as a unit.”
Notre Dame and Chaminade stood out as tough league opponents, with the Wolverines losing 1-0 and tying 3-3 to Notre Dame while losing 2-1 and tying 0-0 to Chaminade during the season. However, Graines said those close matches provided learning opportunities rather than discouragement.
“In those super close games or tough losses, it’s never like we’re getting significantly outplayed,” Graines said. “It teaches us what little things to tweak tactically and technically. It helps us refine the small parts of our game plan that could be game changers.”
Selvaggio said maintaining composure became a priority within the team.
“We’ve learned the importance of staying composed and focused, especially in close games,” Selvaggio said.
After losses, the team emphasized reflection during film sessions and conversations with Sports Psychologist Kat Scardino to address mistakes and improve moving forward. Graines said those moments helped the team focus in close contests.
“We take time to reflect and try to understand what went wrong. Whether that means watching film or talking to Kat the sports psychiatrist, we try to find the root of the problem, so it doesn’t happen again,” Graines said.
