The New Providence Girls Soccer Team has had much success this year. Between meeting the personal goals of the team, as well as other big achievements, the team (11-6-2) owes a lot to the seniors. Five of the eight seniors are the starting eleven and all of those five are captains. Paola Salazar, number eight, plays left defense, Maddy Engelbretchsen, number twenty two, plays center defense, Alexa Boyle, number five, plays right defense, Jules DeGeorge, number eighteen, plays midfield, and Sophia Mariniello, number fourteen, plays midfield and forward. These senior captains play an important role both on and off the field which will be difficult to fulfill after this season.

Two senior captains specifically, Salazar and Engelbretchsen, have left a lasting impact on this team. Salazar and Engelbretchsen both play on the back line together and have been on the varsity team for all four years of high school. The seniors not only bring experience and maturity to the team, but also empower and encourage the younger players to work hard and play the same.

Salazar is a very smart and vocal player. She helps players both on and off the ball to make smart decisions and, having played midfield her freshman year, she makes overlapping runs off the ball that often end in her assisting a goal.

Engelbretchsen is a very versatile player. She played as a forward her freshman, sophomore and junior year. However, when senior year came around and there was a need for a strong defender on the back line, the coaches turned to her and she fulfilled that role. When the team needs a goal though, Engelbretchsen is still placed up top as a forward to score.

Both of the seniors show a great deal of leadership, pushing the team to work hard and leave it all out on the field, while still having their backs if they make mistakes.

The majority of this year’s team consists of underclassmen, and considering the lack of experience and maturity among the players, both captains were impressed at how well the underclassmen have adapted and taken responsibility on the field. Engelbretchsen is most proud of “this team’s work ethic and how [they’ve] improved over the season,” and Salazar is most proud of the underclassmen “being able to adapt to a faster and more physical style of play . . . For always putting their best effort forward during games and practices.”

Overall, Salazar and Engelbretchsen’s impact on the team this year alone will definitely be missed next year and will only call for the rest of the players to fill their shoes. However, both seniors are confident that the upcoming seniors next year will be great captains and quickly tap into those leadership roles. Losing half of the team’s starting players will certainly affect the team next year.

As Salazar stated, “Three out of four of our defenders are seniors so there will definitely be some spots to fill in the defense but … the returning players can handle it.”

Experience and age does matter quite a bit during games, especially important games, so that lack of experience might be difficult for the team to adjust to. However, she is confident in the returning players’ work ethic, drive, and talent.

Engelbretchsen also pointed out that, “It will be hard at first like it always is but the team will get better as the season goes on. [They] went through the same thing this year but the team ends up getting better as they play together and bond with new players.”

The team will have to adjust a lot next year to not only the loss of their seniors, but their captains that have transformed the team this season. However, as players move up, the incoming seniors will definitely be able to take on that leadership and the underclassmen will have to work hard, just the same.