Coronado Celebrates Senior Night with 2-1 Score Against Centennial

On Wednesday, October 14, Coronado women’s varsity soccer took the field for their senior night game against Centennial, bringing together players and their support systems to celebrate  our team’s seniors and their hefty contributions to the program throughout their time here. Nado proudly walked away with the trophy to a very close 2-1 score. Sophomore Taytum Arens voiced her opinions on scoring a goal that game. 

“Scoring against Centennial on senior night felt so rewarding. Especially after starting down, coming back and scoring the goal to take the lead felt so valuable knowing that the seniors would leave the home field with a win,” Arens said.

Scoring a goal elicits an electric response from the crowd, and that’s exactly what happened when Taytum scored her goal. It holds extra special meaning for the team considering it was senior night. That night focused on recognizing the dedication and hard work that Coronado’s senior players have put in, and the game provided an opportunity to celebrate the athletes who have been such significant assets to the program. Arens’ goal was one of the notable moments of this game against Centennial. 

“The goal was created by me being able to break free and dribble through the middle, I then played it to my teammate Erica Ricks who was in a 1v1. She dribbled and found me wide open in front of the goal and I was able to effortlessly put it in,” said Arens. 

Communication is extremely important in every sport, soccer especially. The players must be able to communicate and work together to adjust to the opposing team’s strategies and tactics. Whether it’s creating scoring opportunities like Ricks and Arens, defending their goal, or supporting their teammates, each player contributes to the team’s overall performance and potential success. Arens also reflected on how Coronado played throughout the game and the efforts she and her team made.

“Our team played super well during the game, we all wanted to win our senior night game and put all we could to be successful,” Arens said. “It was very emotional for me, especially considering my sister who I’m close with, Saige, is a senior this year. Being on the team has brought us especially close, so it was bittersweet to see that it was finally her turn to be celebrated as a senior who will be graduating soon.” 

Before the final score was set in stone, senior night offered a chance to recognize the time and commitment the players have put into the sport. For seniors, this event can be especially emotional and meaningful as they spend the day reflecting on their experiences, relationships they’ve made with fellow soccer players along the way, and memories they’ve made. For Arens, seeing the seniors be celebrated hit home more considering her older sister, Saige Arens, was one of them. 

“My favorite memory from this season has to be the senior night game. We had so much energy and good vibes going into the game as long as fans were there supporting the seniors. It was super fun to play a good game and come out with a win,” Arens said. 

As Coronado’s women’s varsity soccer wrapped up its season, senior night served as a celebration of the team’s accomplishments, the seniors’ dedication, and the memories created on and off the field. For players like Arens, this last home game against Centennial was a great time to compete for Coronado while being a part of a night dedicated to recognizing her team’s seniors.

Ready to Score// Racing down the field, senior Emily Mckinney guards the ball from an opposing player. Senior Ella Shultz keeps an eye on the situation, ready to step in. (Photo courtesy of Ashlin Chase)