Under a Friday afternoon sky, fueled by fierce determination, the high school girls’ soccer team closed out their season, walking off the field with pride and memories for a lifetime. Abington Friends School’s Girls Soccer team had its Senior Day game on Friday, October 17. Their final game of the season had a heartwarming end.
The AFS girls soccer team played George School for their Senior Day game. The team’s six seniors, Marley Field ‘26, Anjali Holloman ‘26, Anna Lena Cassidy ‘26, Keira Kushin ‘26, Precilla Tapia ‘26, and Ella Hawkins ‘26, all got uplifted by both the crowd cheering them on and their teammates.
Although the girls team did not prevail against the rival school, the atmosphere was still there, with numerous people coming out to support the team. Many people even carried balloons with seniors’ initials, as well as paper cutouts of their faces, to show support. The energy on and off the field has always been there with the girls soccer team at AFS.
Even if they lose a game, you can always count on them to try their absolute hardest at the next one, and the next one. They all warm up together, whether that be running laps or warm-up drills, they always do them with smiles on their faces.
Aarohi Sanathara ‘28, a sophomore on the team, said, “The team is dedicated to say the least. We always go out there and give it our all, even after a long week of school.”
Sanathara said, “I’m going to miss all of the seniors. They made the team feel whole, and it feels like a piece of the team is going away forever.”
Marley Field ‘26, a senior and co-captain of the team, said, “I’ve honestly had so much fun this season, and even though it’s not always easy, this season has taught me to appreciate the time I have. Being captain this year was super rewarding, yet it’s also brought a new sense of pressure.”
Field said, “It’s very sad…it will be very hard to say goodbye. Honestly, it didn’t really hit me until after the game. Being in the team huddle, the emotions were high, and seeing some of the people closest to me tear up was extremely sad…I think I was simply trying my best to take it all in. Trying my best to capture the moment and make the best of it.”
It’s always heartbreaking for seniors, realizing they are living through some of their “lasts” for the rest of their lives. For some seniors, it will be the last time they ever play soccer in a league for their school. This is a hard pill to swallow, and it is not an easy thing to think about.
Sports are not played because people have to play them, but because they want to, due to many factors, like wanting to make friends, have a sense of belonging, or even just to be physical after school.
Student athletes, especially at AFS, work so hard to create a positive atmosphere on and off the field or court. Most get home in the late afternoon, or the early evenings, because of school and practice, and those kids wouldn’t be there if they didn’t truly love their sport.
Sports bring people together, whether they are talking about the Eagles game last night or their school’s sports team winning their championship. When talking to people about sports games, professional or not, everyone can recognize the immense amount of talent, hard work, and perseverance necessary to play, compete, and be on a team.
And as the final whistle fades into memory, the spirit of the seniors on the girls soccer team lives on in every shared moment.
Brennan Porreca • Nov 20, 2025 at 9:32 pm
I play on basketball teams and baseball teams outside of school. Being part of a team bonds you with your teammates. With your teammates you have great times, but you also face challenges with them. It builds friendships that will last forever. I learn to not get mad at others and try and encourage my teammates especially in losses. Wins do not teach me, but they make me feel great. While I have played basketball here at AFS the upperclassmen provide wise words and great leadership. They show you how hard you have to work and what you have to do to be great. They also do a great job of making freshmen feel included and make it a safe space here you can be urself.
Kate Timmer • Nov 13, 2025 at 5:44 pm
I have played on AFS girls varsity soccer team since I was a freshman. Since that young age, I have always felt like the team is an important part of my school experience. My teammates are some of my closest friends, and I would be significantly less happy in school without the bonds we have created over the years. Despite the fact that the team does not win very many games, that may have actually brought us closer together through shared negative experiences, and this makes it all the more special when we do occasionally win a game. I’m not a senior, but since I’ve played on this team the seniors have had tremendous impact on myself (as a player and as a person) and on the team itself. It is always hard to say goodbye each year to people who were such leaders and inspired me throughout my career at this school.
Luca • Nov 13, 2025 at 3:59 pm
The end of a season in any sport or art form is not defined by loss but by the community and growth that remain long after. I really connected with the emotions described in this article, especially the bittersweet feeling of ending a season as a senior. As a senior dancer at my studio,Philadelphia Dance Theatre. I understand how it feels to realize that a part of you, your identity, something you’ve dedicated years to, is coming to a close. Like the soccer team, the dance program also builds a strong sense of community with long rehearsals, shared goals, and constant encouragement. I also participate in preseason tennis, which reminds me of how teamwork and perseverance bring people together across different sports. What truly matters in athletics and the arts is not just winning or performing perfectly, but the shared spirit, growth, and memories that continue long after the season ends. The seniors on the soccer team showed how love for your sport and teammates can make every “last” feel meaningful rather than sad.
Maddie • Nov 13, 2025 at 10:46 am
I played varsity girls soccer this fall and I enjoyed it a lot. I like how I’m able to interact with other grades and have friends outside my grade. Joining sports teams or just being a part of one is a amazing way to make new friends while being active. I did cry at the end of the game on senior night, I honestly don’t really know why I just looked at one of the seniors and started crying. It’s important to have fun in high school sports and cherish them because even though I’m just a freshman and I have many more seasons ahead, and one day I’ll be a senior playing my last high school game.
DJ N • Nov 12, 2025 at 8:21 pm
I play basketball outside of school, and I play for the basketball team at AFS. Playing sports helps you find new friends and also gives you a place to do your sport with your current friends. When you’re on a team, you learn about teamwork and how to be in a group. When you win or lose, you learn how to control your feelings, and you learn how to have good sportsmanship. As an underclassman, the upperclassmen help me by teaching me things I don’t know and not getting mad at me when I make a mistake.
Carter • Nov 12, 2025 at 7:42 pm
Sportsmanship is one of the most important parts of playing sports at AFS. I play basketball at AFS, and I’ve learned that it’s not just about loosing, but about being a good teammate and showing respect to others. When we scrimage, we cheer each other on, even when we’re tired or losing. We help each other up, pass the ball. Our coaches always remind us to play with attitude, and just to play. Just like the girls soccer team, we try our hardest and stay positive. Sports at AFS teach us teamwork, respect, and how to grow stronger together, both on and off the court.
Zach • Nov 12, 2025 at 2:56 pm
I have played on many teams in my lifetime. I think playing on a sports team is one of the best ways to build community and make friends. I have made lots of friend and strengthened lots of bonds with friends I already had because we played sports together. Sports build so many memories to share. I think wins are good but there is more to learn from losses. When you lose it is easier to see what you did wrong and what you can improve on. Playing on a team with upperclassmen is really great as an underclassmen. It provides people who can help guide you and what to do and not. On of my favorite moments is me joking around with an upperclassmen and just having a good time.
Jason Holloway • Nov 12, 2025 at 2:49 pm
I play many sports here at AFS, and I think that I have learned teamwork and sportsmanship the most. Losing has helped me recognize what the team and I did wrong and what we can fix. Also, the best part about playing sports is winning and playing with friends. The sports that I play are track, baseball, and basketball. The sport that I like is baseball, and I have played it since I was 9. Playing sports at AFS is a really great experience to do and is lots of fun. I recommend everyone to play at least one sport.
Fia • Nov 12, 2025 at 11:44 am
I started playing softball when I was 9 years old. I was never really on a team before and was nervous to meet the other players. I started to warm up to them and they were all so helpful and kind to me. I’m still playing now and on a new team and I love it. Sports, specifically softball, have always been one of the biggest parts of my life so I’m glad that I was so welcomed into all of it. I’ve learned that even if we win or lose we all pick each other up and learn from one another’s mistakes. I’ve always been inspired by the older girls I’ve seen play and they make me work harder so I can get to their level.
Mia • Nov 11, 2025 at 10:48 am
I joined the Lacrosse team in 7th grade, having never played before, and joining that team was an amazing decision. I wasn’t very good when I starte,d and I’m still improving now, but everyone on the team was super encouraging and welcoming and made me want to try as hard as I could, even if I didn’t succeed. No matter if we won or lost, we still had a good time playing the sport we loved. I haven’t played on the upper school team yet, so I haven’t seen the seniors play, but already they are inspiring for being so dedicated to their sports and sticking with it through their last years at AFS. They make me wanna keep playing to get as good as I can.
Lia Khoury • Nov 10, 2025 at 5:52 pm
Since I arrived at AFS I have been on the Tennis team. While Tennis is mostly a solo sport, me and my friend decided to be doubles partners so I had someone to depend on and who can depend on me this season. It was an amazing experience since we got to grow as a team and bond so much which made us play even better together on the court! However this year, joining the high school, team I got to become a part of a different community which I really enjoyed. During meetings all the students would say something and still respected one another and on the courts people were still kind and able to laugh while still learning. I really appreciated the seniors and when they would announce things or just give words of encouragement and I think even though we are all playing separately we can come together in the end to support each other since that is what a team does.
Natalie Kovalenko • Nov 7, 2025 at 2:12 pm
I have been playing on the girls’ AFS Ultimate Frisbee team for the past four years of my high school career, and it truly has been a blessing. This team has shaped my perspective on how effort and confidence change when they correlate with those around you. As a captain, I have learned that no success comes from a distance, and that to win —or at least feel like a winner —you must make others feel that way. Highlighting the positives is a given after a game, but highlighting the negatives has always seemed to be frowned upon, even though they’re just as important. The negatives shape your constructive criticism to advance and progress your ability, but that only works if the negatives are communicated correctly: nicely or with criticism.
brian • Nov 6, 2025 at 10:05 pm
I play for our Basketball team and it is going well. Being on a team allows you to build connections with people that have a common interest as you. It helps to strengthen your communication and working together. Since you and your teammates both have the same goal which is to win. It’s nice having teammates that are there to give positive feedback to help me grow my skills. Watching the seniors play inspire me to work harder.
E'vah M • Nov 5, 2025 at 2:03 pm
I used to play basketball in and outside of school. I miss it a lot; being on a team shaped much of my childhood. Whether it was my dance team or the kids I played basketball with, I cherished many of the experiences and lessons I learned from meeting other people. Teamwork is incredibly important in learning how to navigate the world. Playing a sport also helps you strengthen your mentality; preparing for losses and never taking wins for granted. Senior players are vital to a team and make the group feel like a family.
Molly Taylor • Nov 5, 2025 at 2:01 pm
I currently play on the AFS lacrosse team, and have learned a ton about trust, and community from the team itself. I think that playing sports teaches you so much about how to put trust into others, as in team sports like lacrosse, it is not possible to play well if you are not trusting your teammates. I feel that sports is also a really great opportunity to meet new people, as, especially for underclassmen, most of our classes are specific to our grade only. It is a great opportunity to meet and bridge connections with peers in and out of the classroom. Overall, I feel that it is important for all Teens to get to experience community and team activities, weather its sports, robotics, theatre or clubs, I think that being apart of something that has a collective goal and message is extremely beneficial to both individuals and the community.
Joshua M. • Nov 5, 2025 at 8:53 am
I play basketball inside and outside of school. Playing team sports makes you care for others, become more responsible for yourself and others, and have each other’s backs. When you lose, you get feedback, don’t take losing as a bad thing but a time to evolve and get better after the loss. But, when you win you get the satisfaction of your hard work. Senior teammates show me what’s possible when you never give up and keep on going. They also show me what’s possible academically.
Josie Sheek • Nov 5, 2025 at 8:43 am
I just recently finished my last year of playing fall varsity tennis this year. Throughout my time playing sports at AFS, I have learned a great deal about my teammates, as well as the community itself. From being on a team, I realized that community is about finding friendships with the people in your team. Playing sports isn’t just about winning or losing; I find it to be about building a stronger bond with the people around you and the strong connection you all share through the sport itself. Being a senior, I have had so many great moments. One moment that will stay with me is senior day. Watching parents and friends of mine and all of my teammates gather on the tennis courts and cheer for each individual senior while they grab their flowers and posters brought such a lively feel to the day. It was like all of us realized we only have today to play together again, so we needed to make it last. That day, every game won their match, and it was the perfect way to wrap up the season forever.
Oonagh Moore • Nov 5, 2025 at 8:31 am
I do play on a sports team and I would say that being on that team has helped shape my sense of community at AFS. I have made new friendships and also deepened connection with other students through the shared experience of a team. You can learn a lot from being on a team; like how to work with others, collaborate, problem solve, and especially overcome differences. A really important skill I learned was how to stay positive after a tough loss, not for myself but for my teammates. This obviously was also beneficial to my own wellbeing but was really important for keeping the morale up. As a senior I would say the moments that stand out to me most aren’t wins or losses but the conversations and atmosphere on the bus rides home from away games, when we would sometimes be able to convince the bus driver to stop somewhere on the way, and just the overall feeling of camaraderie that comes with being on a team.