LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. — Los Alamitos High School’s varsity girls soccer team burst out of the Griffin inflatable one by one, sprinting through a tunnel of their cheering teammates. The announcer’s voice booms over the field as he calls out their names. The girls gather into their starting lineup and tensely listened to the national anthem, anxious to play and to win. This was Los Alamitos High School versus Edison, a battle for first place in the Sunset League, waged on Jan. 23.
The heated match-up opened with player Natalie Lobo, suffering from a season-ending knee injury, honorarily performing the game’s kickoff. This moment of camaraderie was immediately followed by a tense competition in midfield, with LAHS’ possession-focused playing style contrasting with Edison’s direct and pass-heavy methods. By the second half, LAHS’ defenders were highly pressured, constantly on their toes to keep up with the rapid ball movement and powerful shots.
LAHS seniors Victoria Bloch, Sofia Bugarin and Viviana Zacarias charged the goal, aware of the stakes they were facing and the need to work with the team to bring them glory. In the end, LAHS won 2-0, with Zacarias scoring the first in the first half and the second with a free kick sailing over Edison in the tense final minutes.
“Vivi” Zacarias, team captain of three years, has a strategic leader’s mindset, which can be attributed to her new role as a senior mentor, guiding underclassmen into the winning headspace by leading through example.
For senior players, the tense games this season have even more weight, as they hope to end their final year of high school with a victory. But before they fight their ultimate battle in the playoffs, senior varsity girls had a moment to stop and reflect on their high school soccer careers: Senior Night.
After the game, families showed some love to their senior girls, friends clamored to the middle of the stands with signs and blown-up photos and the crowd broke out their cameras.
“Senior night was a very surreal moment. It was a special night seeing all my family and some of my closest friends coming out to support,” LAHS senior and midfielder Cali Koepke said.
Senior Night was an opportunity to recognize upperclassmen for four years of their hard work on and off the field and announce their GPAs, college commitments, career choices and favorite team memories.
“We have a lot of bus rides after CIF games, and we get to play our music as loud as we want, which is really fun,” senior and outside back Addie Bousard said. Plenty of players chose these moments of sisterly team spirit as their most beloved parts of LAHS soccer.
There were tears shed by both parents and daughters because between training, games and legendary pasta nights, the team has become a tight-knit group of friends. Leaving younger buddies behind is bittersweet for those pursuing bright futures in college.
Senior Night’s equal sadness and excitement could not last forever, for soon it was back to work.
The following Saturday’s game against Marina on Jan. 25 again came out in LAHS’ favor, with a 5-0 score of four goals by Zacarias and one by Vanessa Pirrello. Then came one of the biggest games of the season: LAHS versus Newport Harbor, the game that would decide if they would move ahead in the playoffs.
The match was intense, almost heated, as LAHS girls raced to secure the ball from Marina as it darted around the field. They ran back and forth, close to the opposing team’s heels even as they experienced aggressive play and repeated fouls. Luckily for LAHS, one such foul gave Zacarias a goal-scoring free kick, one of two that secured LAHS the win.
“The win allowed us to get a bye, which was very important so that we could rest and recover, but I think the win was more of a statement to prove to everyone we aren’t here to play,” Zacarias said.
LAHS, having advanced to second-round league playoffs, upholds its reputation as seven-time CIF champion. After their Newport win, the girls jumped right into preparin for their next game.
“As a team, we’re putting in the hard work, staying focused and getting mentally ready for the game,” Koepke said.
“Our coach scouts all the other teams, and we plan accordingly. He’ll take one half of the team and practice defending and our formations,” Bousard said, granting a look into the dedicated work LAHS varsity soccer girls put toward their victories.
For seniors especially, the prospect of the CIF win hangs as a final chance for high school soccer glory before they make the transition to college sports. Perhaps their hunger for an ultimate victory will help every grade on the team find themselves champions.
“It being my last year, I want nothing more but to end with a league win and hopefully (a) CIF (or) state win,” Zacarias said.
It seems LAHS varsity soccer girls, no matter the grade level, have one goal that unites them all. And as Zacarias said, it can be summed up in one word: “Winning!” Stay tuned for coverage of tonight’s playoffs to see how close to that goal they get.
Bella Kim • Feb 5, 2025 at 9:43 pm
Amazing, Maleah! Love how diverse of a writer you are. Photos are fantastic, too.
Alyssa • Feb 5, 2025 at 9:07 pm
This is a great sports coverage I can’t wait to see what else you’ll write!