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GREENBURGH, N.Y. Captain Nury Moncada and the other girls of Woodlands varsity soccer team embraced each other on a circle before their game against the private school Solomon Schechter, Monday afternoon at Woodlands.
Bending their legs and swaying back and forward, they shouted at the same time, Woodlands, Woodlands, Woodlands, Falcons!
They seemed very motivated, and yet they couldnt avoid a 9-0 loss to their faster and more organized adversary.
Its a pretty young team, said Woodlands coach Septizal Buggo Bolt about his, adding that many girls are playing soccer for the first year.
Next year we will be better, he said.
The midfielder Moncada, 15, who said she has been playing soccer since she was 8, also attributed the negative result to her teammates lack of experience.
During the game, she proved to be very skillful in disarming, chasing the opponent several times and stealing the ball. She would the encourage the others with the taunt, Lets go, boys.
But after finishing the first half seven goals behind, Moncada left the field looking down, the captain band hanging loose on her wrist.
I was mad that we didnt at least score one goal, she said after the match.
Kelyn Gramajo, 17, who is injured and watched the game from the bench, said that, even if the team has yet to win a game this season, she is confident it can improve.
Its not a good feeling, but I know what our team is capable of, she said. Like Moncada and Bolt, she believes the team needs to practice more together.
Its not like a travel team, where you grow up knowing the girls, she said.
After reaching 9-0, Solomon Schechters team didnt want to score anymore, with their players returning the ball every time they came in front of the goal.
Out of respect, said Yael Schiller, 17, one of the teams captains.
"We thought wed rather practice on things we were still not good at, she added, mentioning switching fields and the overlapping play as examples.
Her mother Karyn, who was sitting on the bleachers, never lost the count.
I love to see girls playing competitive sports, she said.
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