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There are competing forces at play on the girls varsity soccer team. Serious and goofy, for one. Deferential toward the coach and then joking with her, nearly at the same time. Extremely hardworking and then, as if on cue—or on whistle—ready to dance.

“We have competitors,” says coach Sara Reid, drawing attention to not only the seven seniors, including leading scorer Catie Putt ’26, who Reid says “has a fire about her,” but also a deep and productive bench, which even includes a seventh grader, Kaylee Shaw. And yet, in the same thought, she mentions the pre-game dance circle that popped up before the team’s October 1 win against rival Deerfield Academy. “It’s one of the closest teams I’ve ever been a part of,” Reid said. “They all get hyped up—they just want to have fun.”

It’s a duality that’s working, clearly, and one that was on full display during the team’s rout of Cushing on October 8, a win which put their season record at 6-1-2. (After a loss to Westminster, they’re now at 6-2-2.) As the wind swept up leaves on the sidelines, and students, siblings, and families huddled together for warmth on the bleachers, the team, decked out in pink socks, gathered around Coach Reid. She told the team, “We set the pace.” Everyone was listening. It was clear this is a team that gets along and trusts one another instinctively. They gathered for a group huddle and cheer: “’Cats on three, family on six,” before heading to their positions.

And the trust and friendship translated to the game, even in small moments, like when senior Jayme Cerasuolo took a throw in from junior Riley Platt, then dribbled around a cluster on the right sideline and passed it to Brenna Ziter ’26, who moved it forward to Putt. About a minute later, Cerasuolo’s corner kick sparked a shot that hit the post; senior Scarlette Graybill found the back of the net for the team’s first goal. Three minutes later, they were up 2-0. They’d score four more unanswered goals to beat Cushing 6-0.

Though they played with intensity, their spirit and camaraderie—however silly—shined through, as did the confidence and trust the players have with one another. “The team chemistry is very good,” said Cerasuolo. “All of us are best friends, and that helps.”

Senior Alice Brashares expanded on that idea of chemistry. “Everyone kind of messes with each other.” For example, Brashares, a senior from Albany, Calif., said she’s “constantly messing with her backline,” a defensive quartet rounded out by goalie Skyler Walker ’26, Peri Burns ’28, Platt, and Peets Butterfield. “It keeps morale up.”

“The more we’re comfortable off the field, the better we can work together on the field,” said Putt.

They don’t spare their coach, either.

Platt and Putt added that the players feel comfortable getting and even giving their coach feedback, a back-and-forth dynamic that has allowed for everyone to play to each other’s strengths, to make everyone better.

Reid is aware of the dynamic, and in fact fosters it. “I have to allow them to be silly and have fun,” she said. When it’s time to get serious, however, “they bring the intensity.”

Cerasuolo, echoed by Platt and junior Zoe Melia, agreed Coach Reid is “very easy to work with. She’s very supporting, and always there for us.” Cerasulo said she can talk to Reid with “literally, like, any problem I have.”

Brashares said because the team is so close, they can go beyond jokes to talk frankly with one another as well, to criticize when the need arises. “We can make fun of each other, but also say, ‘Hey, get it together.’”

Brashares said her backline, before each game, holds pinkies and takes a deep breath as a group. Each section of the team—the midfielders, the forwards, and defenders—have their own special rituals, Brashares explained, including pranks, inside jokes, and group texts. Again, this team unity is not an accident.

In fact, it’s highly crafted, in every sense of the word.

In Coach Reid’s office in the Zachs Admissions Center, there is a vision board against the wall. A roughly three-foot-high corkboard, the vision board is full of team pictures, inspirational quotes, and index cards which state each player’s motivation and who they play for. The team made it on Tuesday, Sept. 30, after a film-watching session.

Brashares’ card reads: “I play for my younger self and my brothers.” She has two brothers, 23 and 27, who grew up playing soccer but don’t anymore, but who are still very invested in her success on the field. Beside the quote it reads “Trust your teammates, Trust yourself, Trust the game.”

Scarlette Graybill’s card reads: “I play for my younger self who wanted to be a professional soccer player.” Below it reads, “Control the Controllables.” Brenna Ziter’s says she plays for something “bigger than ourselves.”

The idea came from a social media video Putt saw last summer. She brought it to the team, who agreed it would be a strong exercise in building chemistry. It’s working.

Amid long school days, fitness and conditioning sessions, and long practices, the motivational cards, said Putt, “remind us why we show up every day.”

Brashares agreed, adding that the vision board helps her and her teammates keep in mind that “it’s a privilege to be here.”

A privilege they aren’t taking for granted, and one that has helped foster an entire team attitude that’s already paying dividends—not just with their impressive record, but in the inspiration younger members feel, and the connection they have to their older peers.

“It’s nice to have role models,” said Melia. “They’ve been with me throughout my entire career here.”

It’s a sentiment shared by Platt, who said, “It’ll be hard when they graduate.”