Varsity girls soccer improved to 7-2-1 during the regular season after defeating Fairfax 2-1 April 28.

The team’s season includes highlights like beating rival Herndon 2-1 April 24 in overtime.  Sophomore defender Meaghan Nally and freshman midfielder Brooke O’Donnell both scored overtime goals to clinch the team’s first win against its rival in over a decade.

After finishing last year with a 7-3-3 record, the team strives to continue its success in its final push of the regular season with three games against Falls Church, Madison, and Langley. The home game versus Langley Thursday, May 8 is Senior Night.

For the team’s five seniors, the Herndon win was exciting.

“It was really nice to win in our last season,” senior forward Caitlyn Christopher said. “Freshman year, our goalie was knocked out early with an injury, so the game was not well-matched. Sophomore year, we lost and last year we lost in the final minutes of the game. So, this year was an exciting win.”

After missing last season with a torn medial meniscus, Christopher thinks this season has great potential.

“I’m going to look back on last year and miss not being able to play, but this year the team has been playing a lot better together and I predict it will be one of our better seasons,” Christopher said.

Senior midfielder Diana Mazid credits the team’s success to teamwork and chemistry.

“This season is our best season yet because we are connecting as a team,” Mazid said. “We are using each team member’s talents to win games. We are really motivated to go far this year. As seniors, we want to leave a positive mark on the program.”

With five seniors on the roster, the team has seen talented underclassmen step up.

“We have talented sophomores and juniors who will be able to step in and continue the team’s success after the seniors graduate,” Christopher said. “The two freshman on the team have shown great potential as well.”

Head varsity coach Mike Astudillo, who was named the 2013 Liberty District Coach of the Year, has reinforced the mantra “seize the moment” to describe the 2014 season.

“[Astudillo] always tells us to play each game like it is our last,” senior defender Lindsey Gibson said. “We take each game individually and play one game at a time.”

Regarding her final season, Gibson has fond memories of her four years on the varsity squad.

“I am definitely going to miss the team next year,” Gibson said. “The girls that I have been teammates with and have seen at practice every day have become like family to me.”