Fall Sports have arrived, which means there are new faces representing our sports teams. I’m super excited to tell you all about our high school’s soccer teams! Our program isn’t just one big group; we have three awesome levels: Frosh, JV, and Varsity. Each team is like its own little family, with fun traditions and tons of unforgettable moments. If you’re just starting out, you’ll probably join Frosh, where you learn the basics, make new friends, and receive your first taste of team spirit. On JV, you can really build your skills, work together, and start to shine on the field. Varsity is where you play the big games under the stadium lights and display everything you’ve learned! There’s a place for everyone and being a part of soccer is always a blast. Now, let me introduce you to each level and share what makes them so great!!

Varsity

Our first Varsity member is Leo Loza! Leo, a senior, has “been playing soccer for as long as [he] could walk,” and it’s always been his primary sport. He also runs track but stated if he ever had the opportunity to go professional for soccer he’d “absolutely” take it. This is his fourth year on the varsity team, having played since his freshman year. Leo describes the experience as “amazing,” saying, “you create many friendships, you meet many people, and it’s just a great experience overall.” For this season, his goals were “to get all-conference and just continue to make a big impact on [his] team.” He’s focused on improving his mental composure, explaining that he’s been working on “being composed and making sure [he] can control all [his] emotions on the field.” Leo believes he handles pressure well and acknowledges that his mental state can sometimes affect his performance, explaining, “If I’m having a bad day, it can affect my game, but usually when I get on the field, I try to just forget about everything and focus on the game.” On the field, he plays as a center back.

Our second Varsity member is Kornel Czerwiec! Kornel says he’s “been playing soccer since [he] was probably like four or five years old.” While soccer used to be his primary sport, he explains that “volleyball is [his] primary sport now.” When asked if he would go pro in soccer, he reflects, “I think my younger self would say yes, but, right now, I probably wouldn’t say so.” This is his third year playing on the varsity team, and he describes the experience as “super fun,” saying he has “great times with friends, [his] buds,” and that he loves it “mainly for just the vibe of the sport.” His goals for the season were “to improve as a striker,” since it’s a new position for him. Kornel explains, “I used to only play defense, center back, and learning my sophomore year how to play striker was definitely a learning curve. So after that, it’s just improve, improve, improve and try to score as many goals as possible.” The main skills he focused on were “goal finishing and dribbling.” When it comes to handling pressure, he says, “I feel like I do, yes. I tend to use my pressure to help me… my anxiety fuels the way I play. The more nervous I am, the more instinctual I become.” He also acknowledges that his mental state plays a big role in his performance: “If I’m feeling confident, ready, and all the above, I feel like I can outperform many players.” Still, he admits that outside factors can sometimes affect his game but says he tries “to persevere through that, get around it.” On the field, Kornel plays both striker and center back.

Our third varsity member is Michael Kopacz! Michael has been playing soccer for almost 11 years, and it’s his primary sport. If given the opportunity, he says he would definitely go pro. This is his third year on the varsity team, and he describes playing at that level as “an amazing experience playing and being a part of the team.” His goals for the season are to “win Regionals and just become a better player.” Michael hopes to improve his speed as the season goes on. When it comes to handling pressure, he says it “depends on the situation.” If he’s “in front of people and being put on the spot,” he tries to keep his composure, but when it comes to playing in general, he handles pressure “pretty well.” Mentally, he explains that he’s “usually always relaxed and tries to focus on the game,” which helps him “stay composed throughout the game.” On the field, Michael says he can play any position but mainly plays fullback or winger.

Our fourth Varsity member is Gerardo Velasquez! Gerardo has been playing soccer since he was three years old, and it’s always been his primary sport. If given the chance, he says he would “of course” go pro. This is his first year on the varsity team, and he describes playing at that level as “very intense.” His main goal for the season is “to win Regionals.” Throughout the season, Gerardo has focused on improving his ability to handle pressure. He admits that he didn’t handle it well at the beginning but says he’s “gotten better over the course of the season.” Similarly, he explains that his mental state used to affect his performance more, but he’s learned to manage it and stay more composed during games. On the field, Gerardo plays midfield.

Our fifth and final varsity member is Filip Szczepaniak. Filip has been playing soccer since he was about three or four years old, and it’s one of his primary sports along with volleyball. When asked if he’d go pro, he says “possibly,” explaining that it would depend on “how everything aligns.” This is his second year on the varsity team, which he describes as “really fun” and “competitive,” adding that “you make a lot of good memories with your teammates.” His goals for the season are to “hopefully win Regionals and win Sectionals.” When asked about skills he’s worked on, Filip joked that he hasn’t improved much, saying, “I feel like I’ve been getting worse.” In terms of handling pressure, he says it “depends what kind of pressure” — if it’s from others, he manages it well, but if it’s pressure he puts on himself, “then not really.” His mental state outside of games doesn’t affect him much, but he admits that “if something happens during the game, it kind of affects me.” On the field, Filip plays as a striker or a winger.

JV

The first JV team member to be introduced is Jason Konda. He has been playing soccer since the age of 8, and it is his primary sport. “I would pick soccer over any other sport,” Jason stated when interviewed. This is Jason’s first year on the JV soccer team, and he says, “Playing on the JV team is competitive. You need to be dedicated and disciplined to be able to work your way up to the varsity team.” Jason, like everyone, has goals. His goals include scoring a fair number of goals and making the team better as a whole. Jason would “like to get wins individually with performances.” I asked him about his experience when playing and if his mental state affects his game-play. Here’s what he answered: “Not at all. My mental state is put aside, and I focus on what needs to get done.” He plays center midfielder.

The second JV team member to be introduced is Enrique Espitia. He has been playing soccer since he was 6 years old and, while soccer is his primary sport, he also plays volleyball. If given the chance, he would go pro in soccer over volleyball. This is his first year on the JV team and “playing on the JV team is challenging, more challenging than Frosh”, he described. He admits to being lazy sometimes but has learned to push himself harder. Enrique’s goals include improving, recovering from an injury, and building up his muscles so he can make varsity next year. He specifically wants to touch on his dribbling skills. He handles pressure well and said his mental state can affect his performance but, usually, he stays mentally strong. On the field, Enrique plays multiple positions, including left mid, right mid, right back, and left back.

The third JV team member to be introduced is Jaime Villegas. He’s been playing soccer since he was 7 years old, which makes it about 8 years that he’s been playing. Soccer is his primary sport but, like his team member Enrique, he plays volleyball. If given the opportunity to go professional, he’d choose soccer over volleyball without hesitation. This is his first year on the JV team, and he explains, “Playing is fun; I enjoy it. I enjoy my team.” His main goal for the season is to have a winning record, and he hopes to improve his speed along the way. When it comes to handling pressure, he says he does well, acknowledging that mental state plays a big role in performance. On the field, he plays center back.

The fourth JV team member to be introduced is Chris Luquetta. “I’ve been playing for 12 years, since I was 3,” he stated. Soccer is his primary sport. He used to play volleyball in middle school but no longer does and has been primarily focused on soccer. “I would go pro if given the chance,” “I enjoy soccer and I’d choose it over any other sport,” he stated. As a freshman, this is his first year on the JV team, which he describes as a “positive and challenging experience” where teammates push each other further and Coach Maroney motivates them to improve. His goals for the season are to help the team win their conference and earn a spot on varsity next year. Chris stated he would like “to strengthen [his] communication skills” throughout the season. “I handle pressure well. My mental state can affect my performance, but I try to stay focused and locked in,” Chris emphasized. On the field, he plays center back.

The fifth and final team member to be introduced is Michael Baker-Genualdi. Mikey has been playing soccer for around nine years, though baseball is actually his primary sport. He says that if he didn’t make it in baseball, he would “go pro” in soccer. This is his first year on the JV team, which he describes as fun, adding that “the guys on the team are awesome.” His goal for the season is simple: “to just get better.” Mikey wants to improve his positioning and diving reactions throughout the season. When it comes to handling pressure, he says he does well. His mental approach to games keeps him focused and motivated — “my mental state is encouraging: oh yeah, go out there and give it all you got; don’t give up — it’s my life motto.” He adds that this mindset “makes [him] better because then [he] lets God do the rest.” Mikey plays as a goalkeeper and has been in that position for six years.

Frosh

The first Frosh team member to be introduced is Jayden Chacon, a sophomore, playing soccer for eight years and considers it his primary sport. If given the chance, he’d go pro. This is his second year on the Frosh team. “It’s somewhat competitive,” he stated. He emphasizes teamwork and passing. His main goal for the season is to make his team better, though he doesn’t feel the need to focus on specific skill improvements. Jaden admits he doesn’t always handle pressure well, and his mental state can sometimes affect his performance if he’s distracted. He plays as a center midfielder. 

The second Frosh team member to be introduced is Marco Vaccarello. He has been playing soccer for around 7 years, and it’s his primary sport. He also plays golf and plans to do track but, if given the choice to go professional, he’d pick soccer. As a freshman, this is his first year on the Frosh team, which he describes as “pretty chaotic since everyone is new and still learning how to play together.” He stated his goals for the season are to “score a goal as a defender” and to “possibly move up to JV.” Marco hopes to improve his passing and turning throughout the season. When it comes to handling pressure, he admits it’s about 50/50 — sometimes he manages it well, other times not as much. He stated his “mental state does affect how [he] plays, but after [he] gets over it and takes a breath, it’s fine.” On the field, Marco plays all defensive positions but primarily serves as a center back.

The third Frosh team member to be introduced is Damian Gonzalez. He’s been playing practically his entire life, starting when he was about 3 years old. Soccer has always been his primary sport — though his dad signed him up for basketball and baseball when he was younger. If given the opportunity to go professional, he would definitely choose soccer over any other sport, calling it “the best sport.” As a freshman, this is his first year on the Frosh team, which he described as “chaotic since some players don’t always listen but [he] still finds it fun.” His main goal for the season is to score seven goals. (At this point in the season, when interviewed, he already scored 2.) “I would like to improve my speed so I can move down the field faster,” Damian stated. He says he handles pressure well and doesn’t get scared or nervous in intense moments. While his mental state can affect his performance slightly depending on how he’s feeling, he always gives his best effort and never quits. On the field, Damian usually plays on the left side, sometimes as a left or right midfielder, though he prefers staying on the left.

The fourth Frosh team member to be introduced is Chris Gomez. He has been playing soccer for about 5 years, and it’s his primary sport. “I would like to go pro one day”, he stated. As a freshman, this is his first year playing on the high school Frosh team, which he stated to be “slow” compared to what he expected, but his goal for the season is to become one of the best players on the team. Chris wants to improve on his “dribbling and shooting skills” as the season continues. When it comes to handling pressure, he says he does so depending on the situation. His emotions also affect how he plays, especially in how he communicates with teammates and the effort he puts into the game. On the field, Chris plays in the midfield and on the wing.

The fifth and final Frosh member to be introduced is Daniel Ganelo. Daniel has been playing soccer since he was about three years old, making it something he’s done for nearly his whole life. Soccer is his primary sport, and he doesn’t play any others. If given the chance, he says he’d “probably” go pro and would choose soccer over any other sport. As a freshman, this is his first year playing on the high school Frosh team, which he describes by saying, “Everybody works hard, they want to win, and everybody plays together.” His goals for the season are “to win most games,” and he hopes to improve his shooting and dribbling. When it comes to handling pressure, Daniel admits, he “doesn’t really”, but he “works to do better.” He says his emotions don’t really affect how he plays, keeping a steady mindset during games. On the field, Daniel plays as an outside midfielder and striker.

Each person who had a chance to explain their experience on the EPHS Soccer team recommends that everyone try it out, even if you don’t think you’re very good. You never know, you could make the team and have a fantastic experience as you train to get better. With that being said, I wish the team a great season and have a wonderful year!

Work Cited

M. Kopacz, personal communication, October 17, 2025

L. Loza, personal communication, October 9, 2025

K. Czerwiec, personal communication, October 9, 2025

F. Szczepaniak, personal communication, October 9, 2025

G. Velazquez, personal communication, October 9, 2025

E. Espitia, personal communication, September 24, 2025

J. Villegas personal communication, September 24, 2025

M. Baker-Genualdi, personal communication, October 19, 2025

C. Luquetta, personal communication, September 25, 2025

J. Konda, personal communication, September 17, 2025

M. Vaccarella, personal communication, September 24, 2025

D. Galeno, personal communication, September 24, 2025

C. Gomez, personal communication, September 24, 2025

D. Gonzalez, personal communication, September 24, 2025

J. Chacon, personal communication, September 24, 2025