The Malden High School girls soccer team starts off the season well. Many players have returned from the previous, but there are also several new talented faces on the team this year. The team wishes to continue last season’s successful run and possibly even exceed it. The team is coached by head coach Enrique Caceda and Anita Caceda.
The girls soccer team has five team captains who have all been crucial in the success of the team. Senior captain and Blue and Gold editor Lucia Quesada Nylen and Sabrina Barreto hold the fort down on defense along with a strong forward lead by senior captains Jacquelyn Smith, Alexandra Lombardi, and Kristina Gilbert. Alexandra Lombardi’s main position is defensive midfielder, while Smith and Gilbert both play as offensive midfielders.
The team has leadership on the underclassmen side as well, with junior Felicia Lombardi being a breakout star of the season. She has become the mainstay of the Golden Tornadoes offense, constantly scoring and being open within a moments notice to get a foot on the ball. With that leadership and the firepower that the younger Lombardi provides. Felicia Lombardi sees herself “as being a [part] of one big family” which allows the girls to connect and feel as one.
The main goal for the team this year is to win the Greater Boston League championship and make it to the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association State Tournament. No girls soccer team has ever won the GBL title, so if they do win then the girls will forever leave a legacy in Malden High School. According to Alexandra Lombardi, coach Rick Caceda “enjoys watching the girls have fun as much as he enjoys winning.” With an attitude that emphasizes less stress, the girls are able to play without fear of making a mistake. This is all thanks to Caceda having created an atmosphere that is perfect for winning and achieving the goals for the season.
The girls are 4-4 on the season so far, but that does not take their eyes away from the prize. With a good attitude and sweltering confidence when taking the field, the girls can easily take their dreams and make them a reality. With fellow GBL teams Somerville, Everett, and Medford all vying for the prize as well, the team will certainly have some competition.
If the girls continue playing as well as they have been then there is no doubt that they will steamroll the competition in the GBL and the State Tournament. With strong leadership, talented players, and a strong coaching staff, the girls have all that they need to make some noise in the postseason and truly go down in MHS history.
