The 31 players on the Nueva girls soccer team giggled as they tilted and contorted their faces to move an Oreo from their foreheads to mouths on the Rosenberg lawn. It was their first day of practice, which consisted of captain-organized minigames like dizzy penalty kicks and soccer bowling.
The games bonded a newly formed team that spans all four grades. “We just wanted people to know each other’s names before they started,” said team co-captain Lena Chow ’25.
Chow, alongside five other seniors on the team, is kicking off the season by building on the legacy of graduated players while ushering in a new friendlier team culture. While maintaining a high level of play against other teams, they aim to make the team more focused on collaboration, spirit, and bonding.
“To build a personal team is really important to us. To build a personal connection is one thing, but [we want] to have everyone feel like they’re included and very close to everyone else,” said fellow co-captain Liv Rhee ’25.
While the team has played just five out of the 19 scheduled matches so far, they have already carved out over a month of practices. Unlike prior seasons, when practice locations were split between Skyline College and the Bay Meadows campus, the team now practices at Skyline for all Monday through Friday practices.
The scheduling change is a slight challenge, but more significant is the loss of three key graduated senior captains. Beyond the bittersweetness, these losses left strategic holes in the center back and winger positions.
Magically, the five new freshmen joining the varsity team “filled these gaps flawlessly,” said left outside back Julia C. ’27.
Freshman Cassie L. ’25 is grateful for the sense of belonging she feels even as a new member. “Even since the very beginning, [the captains and team] went out of their way to talk to us and include us. It made me feel part of the team,” Cassie said.
Meanwhile, returning players are adapting quickly through bonding activities and the daily practice schedule. “The freshmen are bringing fresh energy!” Juliet Chen ’26 said.
Assistant coach and US Master Scheduling & Academic Data Coordinator Kevin Dineen is excited to return for his second season of soccer alongside head coach Daniel Zerabruk.
“There’s a lot of fun, laughter, and camaraderie,” said Dineen, who is also the primary goalkeeper coach for both teams. As the team continues to play more official games, he continued, its “essence will be further defined.”
Looking to the future, many players are excited to potentially advance in the CCS playoffs. In previous years, the team has steadily advanced past the qualifiers, quarterfinals, and semifinals. Last year, the 2023–2024 team reached CCS finals and lost in a tight match against Crystal Springs Uplands School.
Left outside back Julia is hopeful to leverage each player’s individual talent to advance further than ever before and succeed as a team. “[We have] what it takes. We just have to come through when it matters,” Julia said.
Chen is even more optimistic about the team’s prospects at the CCS playoffs. “This is the year that we’re gonna win it all,” she said. “I’m calling it now!”
