Girls Soccer

On Thursday, October 8, Mercersburg’s girls varsity soccer team played Madeira School, ultimately falling 1–0 in a closely contested match. Despite the loss, the Storm demonstrated grit and improvement throughout the game, creating scoring opportunities and showing strong teamwork against a competitive opponent.

Grace Himes ’28, one of the team’s captains, was not disappointed. “I think we had really good passing, and we worked together to pass around the players, and that’s when we were getting our chances,” Himes said.

Head coach Kristen Pixler also recognized the team’s overall development. “I think we played pretty well, and I’ve been seeing improvements as we go through each game, and I think this was a really even match, so they were able to implement some of the things we’ve been working on,” Pixler said.

Several players stood out in the game. Emma Thaci ’30 applauded Emily Wallace ’29 for her performance. “I feel like today was really Emily’s game. She had a lot of shots on goal, and she was commanding the midfield and as striker too. All of our attempts were started from Emily, plus she is super fast and physical, and she can get by players,” Thaci said.

Pixler also praised Callie Wheat ’29 for her efforts in goal, Tierney O’Donohue ’30 for her creative play, and Wallace for pressing throughout the match.

Compared to last year, the team has a younger roster with fewer upperclassmen. Pixler explained the upside to the team composition. “We have combined both varsity and junior varsity teams, so we have very different skill levels from people who have played for their whole lives to people who have just picked it up,” Pixler said. “They are actually a very resilient team, and they have come together and they support one another, and they also communicate well.”

The upperclass players have helped the younger players adjust. Thaci credited senior captains Jennica Nguyen ’27 and Ellie Stine ’27 for their leadership. “Jennica is a strong defensive back, and she has a lot of good guidance. She is able to control the field with her voice, and she is really communicative,” Thaci said. “And Ellie, she is super fast, and she is also nice off the field. She gives good guidance to us underclassmen.”

Himes reflected on her responsibilities as a captain. “I like being able to lead on the field and have everyone’s voices be heard and being a person people can lean on,” Himes said.

Nguyen remembers playing as a ninth grader. “It has been a great experience being able to see players grow alongside you, and just understanding the team culture and sharing it with the younger kids as they come in,” Nguyen said.

Although Mercersburg fell short against Madeira, the team’s performance demonstrated its growing competitiveness as younger players continue to develop alongside experienced leaders.