By David Seo
Staff Writer
Photo by Stephanie Kim
With season looming on the horizon, the girls’ soccer team is training hard on the field. The new Tiger leadership is looking to improve from a tough season last year as they finished fourth in the Rio Hondo standings and did not qualify for CIF. The team is eager to utilize the experiences from its previous losses and transfer them into a fiery fighting effort.
First-year head coach Victoria Lathrop is excited to help the girls reach their goal of CIF. Having previously worked with many high school and collegiate soccer teams, Lathrop has plenty of experience to bring to table.
“I told the girls the other week, ‘We’re going to run this like a college team.’ We will be bringing on a special strength and conditioning coach and a goalkeeping coach,” Lathrop said. “[Those are] resources many other high school programs may not have access to, but I want to bring it here so we can become that powerhouse team. As far as my coaching goes, the girls will learn about my style of coaching which is fairly laidback and relaxed, but organized and structured at the same time.”
Though the team lost three players due to graduation, the Tigers have many strong returners. Seniors Amelia De Young and Sara Jaime are expected to play vital positions, alongside juniors Emily Dunn and Riley Segal. Early on, the team has seen a great deal of young talent as well, including sophomores Uma Hornish and Rainey Tilley, who are returning for their second year on the varsity team. The girls’ experience and skill will prove to be vital when season comes along.
“Already, Coach Tory has made practices more fun and appeals to practices that work for us. All of us love soccer and I can feel the bond growing between our teammates,” Dunn said.
The squad is practicing five days a week for two hours each day in an attempt to start their season off strong. The girls’ first chance to showcase their hard work in the offseason will be on Tuesday, November 29, when the face off against Burbank High School on the road.
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