by cnmarsden in Contests, Historical, Neighborhoods and Squares, Schools and Youth, Sports, Teens, Uncategorized
Posted on April 26, 2011 at 11:06 am
Last Modified on May 3, 2011 at 10:44 am
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Somerville is a tight-knit community, and when one succeeds, all succeed. A great example of this happened back in 2008, and it happened to the Somerville High School girl’s Varsity Soccer team.
Boy’s soccer at Somerville High has always been one of the more successful athletic programs, yet it gets no attention because, well–it’s soccer. On top of being an unnoticed sport at Somerville High, the GIRL’S soccer team was the lowest of the low, and barely ever got any attention. But in 2008 the Lady highlanders were prepped and ready for battle. Win after win, the recognition of the SHS girl’s varsity soccer program was growing, and their games were becoming a select point of interest. For the first time in years there were fans, that weren’t the soccer moms, coming to watch. Then for the first time in Somerville High School athletics history, the Lady Highlanders clinched the league title and were the Greater Boston League Champions. They were also the only GBL World Cup Champions, and went undefeated in the league mini-tournament. The girls were part of the Boston Globe’s Top 20 with an amazing record of 15-3, and on they were on their way to the MIAA division 1 state tournament.
The Lady Highlanders were defeated 4-2 in a tough battle against Andover, but that didn’t matter. They made SHS athletic history by being the first girls soccer team to take the GBL champions title, being the first and ONLY GBL World Cup champions, and being the first girl’s soccer team at SHS to go to the state tournament. The Lady Highlanders had become so popular that they went from having their parents cheer them on, to having the majority of the school filling the stands of Dilboy Memorial Stadium to root them on through the entire tournament game.
Since 2008, the Lady Highlanders have qualified for the MIAA division 1 state tournament every season. My name is Cassandra Marsden, and in 2008 I was the team’s starting left-wing midfielder, and was voted the only captain my senior season. Not only did it happen in Somerville, and not only did it happen to the 2008 Lady highlander varsity soccer team, it happened to me.
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I’m so glad that your competitive spirit is helping Somerville soccer girls make their mark in greater Boston! I’m thankful for the coaches too! For me, part of soccer’s charm is the lack of fanfare (though a little more cheering could be, well, cheerful). I wouldn’t want so much of the craziness that goes on at English “football” games to become part of the American soccer scene. I hope the band plays at your games some day.
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The team and I are also very thankful for our wonderful coach: Jason Lenicheck, as well as the JV and freshman team and their coaches. As for the cheering, the layers love the crazy crowds! It means people are into the game as much as we are
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Cassie- You rock! Thanks for submitting this story and telling all of Somerville how wonderful the SHS girls soccer team is. The team has come so far in a short period of time and the team is very representatiove of SHS- very diverse with homegrown Somervillians and also kids who grew up or were born overseas in more soccer crazy countries. The SHS team represents multi-culturalism in the best way. Thanks again Cassie.
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Jane- thank you for reading! I thought nobody would even pay attention to this blog entry, but i was wrong..and i couldn’t be happier that I was wrong! The majority of our team was born outside of the U.S. and all the diversity makes us even closer as a team. We blend so well, and they are the best group of girls to be around! Thank you
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