Despite the COVID-19 outbreak, soccer season is in full swing. Due to the pandemic there have been many changes to this 2020-2021 season. Coaches have tirelessly been working on finding an effective way to keep their players safe. The teams must take extra precautions, even though it might be quite strange.

“It’s weird not being able to be close to my friends when we’re on the sidelines. We even have to put our bags six feet apart in order to keep social distance,” senior forward Emma Diaz said.

Unfortunately, the soccer team was forced to quarantine after a possible outbreak. Between November 16th to the 27th, they lost two weeks worth of practice and with that two games.

“We lost an opportunity to learn to play with each other since a lot of seniors left and the team was practically all new,” said senior center-back Caro Prieto, “We only had two practices before our next game post-quarantine and we ended up winning.”

Despite the unusual season, the team is eager to continue to start winning games. Although, last year’s five starting seniors graduated, the reigning state champions believe they have what it takes to bring back the title again.

“We did lose many starters, but I am still confident that we have the potential to win states once again,” senior Mia Alexander, goalie, said.

In order to ensure the safety of all players, measures have been taken. If a player starts to experience COVID-19 symptoms, they must get tested. In the case that a player has a positive result, the whole team quarantines for two weeks. This can be very detrimental to the team. Since the team has many new players practices are very important to finalize everyone’s positions on the field.

“I have been very careful about not getting COVID-19 because this is my last season playing high school soccer and I want to make sure that it goes as smoothly as possible, Diaz said.

Overall, the team is very eager to get back to winning games.