Heraclitus once said, “The only constant in life is change,” and for the DC girls soccer team, this quote holds true. Coming off an impressive 2024 season with a record of 11-6-1, the Lady Knights enter the fall with a new coaching staff. After losing eleven key seniors, they are once again ready to exceed expectations.

Towards the end of last year, four-year girls' soccer coach Roberto Irias stepped down from his role to pursue ordination. As said in his “Thank you, Coach Irias” tribute, he was a fundamental part in the increasing success of the soccer program. His work since 2021 has set the stage for a new coach to take the reins heading into this year.

Enter Andy Young. The USA national soccer team chaplain; Philadelphia Union team chaplain; father of DC students Hudson, Avery, and Laurel; and previous coach of DC’s middle school girls soccer team has risen to the challenge. Due to his extensive experience and expertise in the sport, Coach Young has been vital to the success of the girls thus far.

 Already, he has established a powerful and Christ-like team atmosphere that is both empowering and inspiring. “I think having hard, intense training that allows the team to push each other is crucial, but it's just as important that as soon as practice ends, we are able to have fun with each other and really value each teammate as a friend,” describes senior Kat Wolfe. 

Implementing the usage of Veo, a film-watching tool, has allowed the girls to focus on improving their specific skills, which has proved very effective. A big believer in setting the tone as well as goals to work toward, Young has set team values centered around the theme verse for this year, Psalm 115:1: “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness.” Young says, “I’ve loved the focus we’ve had based on Psalm 115:1–that all we do is for the Lord’s glory and not our own. It’s been a joy to see the team embrace this vision and pursue excellence for Him.”

 Principles for the team are as follows: We keep the team first, We seek excellence, We discipline our minds, We are intentional. Focusing on these has aligned the team's physical abilities with their mentality in a constant reminder to do everything for the glory of Christ alone. Junior Evie Gray explains, “When the team is willing to push themselves, stay focused on the goal, and support each other, it shows that we are committed to our team and overall is the key to success.” Additionally, Coach Young has expanded the coaching staff significantly. The DC girls team is now assisted by Alison Levis, Kristi DiRico, Elayna Macurak, and Hannah Bender.

Since officially kicking off the season with a 5-1 win against Upper Darby High School, the girls have also faced and conquered Philmont Christian Academy twice, as well as The Christian Academy. As of September 15th, they stand at 4-2. Captained by seniors Kat Wolfe, Jessica Petrulis, and junior Harper Jameson, the squad is being urged to step up amidst an array of changes and become a force to be reckoned with on the field. “I think the level of physicality and heart has jumped to new levels. The sky is the limit for what this team can achieve if we continue to improve our fundamentals and grow in wise decision-making and technical consistency,” Coach Young remarks. 

With only a third of the regular season complete, so many opportunities await these girls, and the community is eager to see the performance they will display in the coming weeks.