With the 2024 fall sports season coming to a close, many MHS sports teams have deemed this season as a difficult one. One of those teams has been the Girls’ Varsity Soccer team, who dealt with key players’ injuries and constantly changing positions that made it difficult for them to go into games comfortably. The team has experienced 13 losses and four wins.
Aside from the hardships faced this season, the four captains of the Girls’ Varsity Soccer team deserve to be recognized for their hard work and contributions to the team. Out of the four captains, senior captain Maia Saeed plays a key role within the team as center-back being the last line of defense.
Originally, at the end of last season, only two captains of the Girls’ Varsity Soccer team were announced: sophomore Amelia Berliner and senior Makenzie Jenkins. Yet, in a last-minute decision that was announced at practice, Coach Rick Caceda, the coach of the Girls’ Varsity Soccer team, added Saeed and junior Brenda Darisse as captains. This resulted in four main captains of the team. “Honestly, I was really surprised when I got captain because we already had two captains, so I didn’t really feel like there were going to be any other captains, but I was really happy because it’s my senior year,” stated Saeed.
Though Saeed herself was surprised that she was chosen as captain, fellow teammate and sophomore Sofia Vargas explained that she was happy Saeed got the role and how she “had a feeling Maia was going to be chosen as captain because she’s always ready to lead.”
Like many of her teammates, Saeed began playing soccer at the age of four but unlike many captains, Saeed did not play soccer for all four years of high school. “When I was a freshman, I was on JV, but then I took a year off sophomore year and didn’t play. I came back in my junior year, playing the same offensive position, an attacker,” recalled Saeed.
Due to Berliner’s injury at the beginning of this season, Saeed had to step away from her center midfield position and into Berliner’s center-back position and has been the center-back ever since. As center-back, Saeed is responsible for overseeing the game and communicating with her teammates on when to pass.
Saeed continued, “As a senior, I play center-back which is the main defense. So I went from an attacker on JV to defense on varsity, which is a big difference.” Eventually, she began to “feel most comfortable on defense.” She noted how difficult it was to switch from an offensive position to a defensive position as she had to adapt to become more physical with the other team in order to protect the goal.
Saeed is also responsible for taking the majority of field kicks, goal kicks, and corner kicks. “She’s back in defense with me, so she explains well and helps us to know where we’re going and where the ball should be,” said Vargas.
Coach Rick, responsible for the last-minute decision, explained that Saeed truly differentiates from the other captains because she has not been playing her whole high school career. “Maia, she literally came out of nowhere and earned her captaincy. She took a year off of soccer and came back a different person, more mature. So she definitely earned her title.”
He then described Saeed as “a perfect example of what a captain should be,” stating that “it’s not always the best player or that senior, but it’s the character.” Saeed’s leader-like characteristics has led to her teammates respecting and valuing her opinion.
Saeed expressed how good it feels to have her teammates come up to her for advice, related to soccer or not. She also mentioned how as captain, she now has more of a voice on the field.
As the end of the season approaches, Saeed hopes the team can win more games and continue to enjoy playing as a center-back. “She came in and only played for a little bit, then didn’t play for a year, and didn’t even know if she’d make the team again. The Maia that you see today is not the same Maia I saw as a ninth grader and it’s wonderful to see,” stated Coach Caceda.
