W+H girls’ soccer team sparkling on the field

By Aastha Patel ‘23

Senior co-captain Angelina Vargas ‘23 gets ready to strike in a game against St. Thomas Aquinas High School.

The Wardlaw+Hartridge girls kicked off their soccer season in August and have been working hard ever since. Each practice since pre-season and during the school year, the girls have been putting in the energy to build chemistry and understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

Co-Captain Jasmyn Gordon ‘23 said, “I know that everyone on the team is dedicated to becoming a better player, and it’s evident in our performance on the field. I can’t wait to see that hard work continue to pay off in future games.”

The girls look to build on their hard work with each game and practice to expand on their 6-2-1 record.

While the girls have proven to be quite successful this season, the pre-season was filled with many obstacles. A lack of scrimmages resulted in the girls not knowing much about each other’s playing styles. Additionally, an influx of new players switched the team chemistry.

“I was surprised at how well our new players integrated into the team. Usually, it takes a while for newer players to warm up, but I think the positive environment our team created during pre-season made everyone comfortable,” Jasmyn said.

This environment proved to be beneficial for the Rams when the regular season began, as they won their first game against Middlesex with a score of 5-2. The positive attitudes and determination of the Rams have been reflected in their sharp performance on the field. In nine games, the girls have come together to score a total of 41 goals. Senior co-captain Angelina Vargas ‘23 leads the team with 21 goals.

One of the biggest examples of the girls’ hard work came in a recent matchup against Old Bridge. Though Old Bridge plays a division higher than Wardlaw+Hartridge, the Rams were able to put in all their effort and focus into the game, finishing on top with a final score of 2-1.

With impressive games like this, it will be exciting to see how the Rams take on the rest of the season!