As the soccer season begins, the Lady Pounders are 0-2. Their first game was on Tuesday, August 25, against the Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences (CSAS), which ended with a score of 1-8. The only Central goal was made by Maggie Pedigo, a freshman, after a cross from Alyssa Rosenzweig to Maclaine McBride, who then passed the ball to Pedigo.

“It was kind of surprising. I’m only a freshman, and the ball just rolled out in front of me while the other girls were fighting for it. So I just hit it, even I thought for sure an upperclassman would score, not a freshman,” Pedigo said.

With the first game kicking their season off poorly, the team worked on their defense  and positioning in practice; Thus, they were able to keep Cleveland’s points down in the Pounders’ second game on Thursday, August 27. The final score was 1-5, with Alyssa Rosenzweig scoring the only goal for Central. Previously in the game, Cleveland’s keeper blocked Rosenzweig’s penalty kick. After yet another foul by Cleveland, Rosenzweig took a direct free kick from outside of the eighteen, near the corner of the field and sunk the ball into the net.

Although their season has been rough so far, the team has been able to stay positive and maintain unity through their losses. Captains, Rebecca Allen and Alyssa Rosenzweig, have kept an upbeat viewpoint and have been a huge help in the team’s positivism, as well as upperclassmen who make sure the team stays a team.

“As long as I see us getting better as a team each game, I will stay positive. If we continue to improve, the wins will come,” shared Coach Scott Phillips.

As the season progresses, Coach is noticing more and more talent. He sees excellent things in each game and as they add up, so do the chances of Central winning.

“I am really excited about the freshman group we have this year. If they stay together the next four years and work hard, they could do some great things for Central girls’ soccer,” Phillips expressed.

“We’re going to do well this year, even if we don’t win every game. I think the support we’ve gotten from the school has helped [and] the fact that we all genuinely want to win,” Hannah Holmberg, a junior on the team, shared.

This season, the Lady Pounders will have wins and losses, but the Digest is proud of the team no matter what happens. The team has a long season ahead of them and every practice, every game, they’re only getting better.