The scoreboard read 8:05 as fans filed into Carlini Field; the clock was frozen from the previous night. Both teams waited anxiously to resume their unfinished match to determine who would become the state champion. For GDS, the stakes were high, as a win would mark the women’s varsity soccer program’s first state championship.
On Monday, Nov. 10, the women’s varsity soccer team played Sidwell Friends School in the District of Columbia State Athletic Association (DCSAA) tournament championship game. The game had been postponed due to lightning the night before, and the score was tied at 1–1.
“We were trying to keep up the momentum, and we told everyone to have a lion mentality,” senior captain Rachel Sachs said. “We were serious during warmups and texted everyone to get a good night’s sleep.”
Sidwell opened with an aggressive strategy. Their offense thrived in the fast break, and their strikers created many opportunities from steals and by beating GDS defenders.
Midway through the end of the remaining time in the half, Sidwell changed their formation, moving one of their strikers towards the center to find weak spots and force extra coverage by GDS’ defense.
“Going into the game, we wanted to focus on preventing their striker, so we had people positioned centrally to try and stop her,” junior Annie Del Guercio said.
Nevertheless, GDS kept their composure and protected their side from Sidwell’s offensive efforts. Freshman Elise Wosinska put together a strong push to end the first half, giving the Hoppers momentum heading into halftime.
By halftime, a sizable crowd of both GDS and Sidwell supporters had gathered under the waning afternoon light. “Seven Nation Army” by the White Stripes began to play as cheers erupted for the beginning of the second half. With the score still tied at 1–1, both teams had 40 minutes left to score and win the championship banner.
“At halftime, our coaches adjusted our front line and directed us to press as a team,” junior Shanez Benyoucef said.
Sachs and Benyoucef pushed down the field early, and both got good shot attempts to start the second half. Sidwell returned their aggression with a fast counter and decent shot on goal that was stopped by senior goalie and captain Corina Bellermann.
In the 44th minute, Benyoucef was grabbed and pulled to the ground, resulting in a foul and free kick for the Hoppers. The referee called a foul but did not give the Sidwell player a card, prompting shouts of indignation from the GDS fan section.
“I was fouled in the box, and the girl didn’t get a red card,” Benyoucef said. “It was a goalscoring opportunity, and she blocked me from it by wrapping her arms around me.”
Senior captain Theo Foer stepped up to take the kick and buried it in the back of the net to put GDS up 2–1.
The GDS bench erupted in cheers, and shouts of “Give me a T-H-E-O” rang out through the field.
Sidwell increased their physicality after Foer’s goal, and their strikers continued to push up to GDS’ defense. The Quakers kept the ball close to GDS’ goal, and with under 19 minutes left in the second half, they had garnered ten corner kicks in the game.
A missed communication by the GDS defense after a cross from Sidwell led to an own goal by sophomore Naomi Berger to tie the score at 2–2.
After the goal, the momentum swung strongly in Sidwell’s favor. Shortly after, a Sidwell striker got out fast in transition and perfectly set up her teammate for a tap-in goal to put the score at 3–2.
The exhaustion began to set in for both teams with 13 minutes left in the game, and the pace began to slow down. With every touch, the Sidwell fan section grew louder, and GDS looked desperately for a spark to reignite their energy.
With under four minutes left, GDS went into a full press, feeling the championship slipping away. Due to this offensive strategy, GDS got two free kicks; however, they could not convert on either.
As the final whistle blew, Sidwell players and fans began to rush the field; the Hoppers’ season was over in a 3–2 loss.
“I am so proud of every single person on the team,” Sachs said after the loss. “Out of all the years, I’ve never been on a team that’s been so kind and supportive.”
Head coach Katie Redmond praised the team’s culture during the season and tournament run. “It was a great run; it was fun to be a part of this group,” she said. “That is what really makes or breaks a team, and every day it was fun to be here.”