Image from WHS girls soccer instagram, Caption: Ryleigh Silva getting ready to kick the ball
This year’s Washington Huskies girls soccer team has been showcasing their incredible grit, determination, and skill all throughout the 2025 season. With a solid 4-3-1 record, they’ve already made a statement with commanding wins and significant improvements across the board. A majority of the team are underclassmen, so creating chemistry between players has been incredibly important. Captain Jhanavi Venkataramana said, “I’d say people work better together because of the growth of chemistry and just basic skills. Especially with soccer, the only way to get better as a team and as an individual is to play, which has also contributed to our improvement, plus confidence and increased communication.”
For Venkataramana, the most memorable moment of the season came during their first league game of the season as they faced Moreau. She described a moment during a free kick where she scored before the ref blew the whistle, leading her to retake the kick. The best part? She nailed the same exact shot the second time! Sophomore Jamilla Ingram-Coats scored two goals on Moreau’s goalie, an amazing feat, during that same game. The team’s superstar goalie, Daniela Nunez, helped the team secure a win in the tight game with 7 saves on goal, helping the Huskies win with a score of 4-3.
While that match was a highlight, their game against American was their toughest so far. After a challenging meeting against the team last year, in which they lost 1-10, Washington was determined to show their improvement. Despite the team feeling tired and slightly injured after playing a game that same week on Tuesday, they played admirably.
Venkataramana points out that the game revealed areas where the team needed to improve. “We needed to focus more on our defense as well as conditioning,” she admits. The Huskies played hard but unfortunately lost the match. However, compared to last year’s score, the 2-4 loss shows incredible improvement. This match was a testimony to how far the team has come in the past year and shows their willingness to face challenges head on.
As with any cohesive team, traditions play a huge role in bonding and motivation. The team has a few fun rituals they like to do to help motivate them before games. In one, players line up in two lines as they leave the locker room, tapping the top of the doorframe with their right hand for good luck.
The team’s goal for the rest of the season is to play better and show improvement when facing teams they played poorly against last year. Venkataramana stated, “I’m hoping that with all the improvements we’ve made, the results of some of our close games can be converted into wins.” Overall the girls varsity soccer team has made great strides since last year, and they’re not done yet. It’s clear that the future of this team is bright.
Lily Spivey is a junior at Washington High School and has lived in Fremont her whole life. This is her first year working on The Hatchet and she hopes to cover current events, pop culture, and student life. Lily spends most of her free time reading, listening to music, and hanging out with friends. She’s also been on the varsity swim and water polo teams since her freshman year. In the future, she hopes to become a pediatrician and have a house near the coast.