Senior Day Scrimmage for GHS Girls Soccer

It wasn’t the Senior Night the girls soccer team at GHS had envisioned but the dozen seniors made the most of it.
           
The Guardians were set to battle rival South Windsor in the regular season final last Thursday (Nov. 4) but the visiting Bobcats had to cancel the day before, leaving head coach Mark Landers scrambling to find an opponent.
           
Enter Middletown and head coach Rachel Lemke, who agreed to scrimmage Lander’s squad so the Guardians could recognize the seniors and play a game in front of family and friends. 
           
“I have to hand it to Rachel in Middletown,” said Landers. “She said ‘we’d love to do that for you’. For them to do that is phenomenal.”
           
The eighty minute scrimmage ended with the Guardians on top 4-0. Sydney Kehl, Tia Taleb, Emily Smith, and Sophia Haussmann scored, but more importantly the scrimmage allowed the seniors to get closure at the place they’ve called home for the past four years.
           
Following the scrimmage, each senior was asked three questions: What was the best part about playing with this group of seniors? What was your favorite memory playing soccer for GHS? What is something unique about you?
 
Here are the seniors and their answers below.

Alayna Christina - Defender
“We just have a really good bond and I’m really glad we could be back out here after COVID and have a somewhat normal season.” 

“{Laughing} When my friend Sophia Haussmann scored today and face planted into the turf.” 
 
“I love riddles.”
 
Sophia Haussmann- Midfielder 
“I made really good strong friendships and made a lot of good memories.”

“Running to hug my friend Alayna (Christina) when she scored the game-winning goal against Farmington.”
 
“My left eye is legally blind.”
 
Sydney Kehl - (Captain) Midfielder
“As an underclassman you don’t feel as tight to the team but when we all are leading the team it’s the best.” 
 
“My freshman year when I scored my first goal and everyone just piled on top of me. That was nice.”
 
“I have a fake tooth.”
 
Katie Donovan - (Captain) Forward
“How close we’ve gotten. We started when we were so young so to finish out our high school career with everybody is pretty special.”
 
“When we scored the game-winner in the championship game in 2019. We all celebrated together on the sidelines.”
 
“I like crosswords.”
 
Tia Taleb - Forward
“Our sense of humor and how close we are.”
 
“Today was pretty special. I’ve been looking forward to it all four years.” 
 
“I have a twin brother [Ali Taleb].”
 
Valerie Simon- Midfielder
“How much time we spent together and how we got super close through everything that we do.”
 
“Definitely today. Senior Day is something we have been looking forward to. And before each game how pumped up we get to our song.”
 
“I like to ski.”
 
Logan Scott- Midfielder
“You can tell that everyone has a love and passion for the game and always tries their hardest. It makes it really fun.”
 
“Last year it was snowing during one of our practices and we had snowball fights and made snowmen on the field.”

“I’m left handed.” 
 
Meghan Smith- Midfielder
“We’re able to have a lot of fun at practice and just laugh a lot. We’ve gotten real close.
 
“Nothing in particular. Just the bus rides and when someone scores it’s just a great feeling because we all come together, which I really love.”
 
“I love to travel.”
 
Delina Chavez - (Captain) Midfielder
“We’re all just able to encourage each other and we’re really positive with each other. We are really close and that always helps when times are a little tougher.
 
“When my sister [sophomore Angela Chavez] scored a header off a corner kick. It was cool.” 
 
“I like baking.”
 
Natalie Bedard - Midfielder
“I love how we have each other’s backs and I love playing with my best friends on the field.”
 
“The ‘Ship’ in 2019 and I hope we can do it again.”
 
“I love shoes.”
 
Emily Mazella - Team Manager 
“I love the bond we all have. It’s like a second family. I can go to any of them for anything, it’s just amazing.”
 
“The bus rides after a win. It’s just a fun environment to be in.”
 
“I have a twin sister.”
 
Jordan Parsons - Team Manager
“The humor, you’ll never not catch them laughing. They make the best out of everything. Even after a loss they always have each other’s backs.” 
 
“Overall the inclusion. Like Senior Day, it was nice of them to include us.” 
 
“My humor, my bad memory. I’m kind of crazy, awkward, and weird. I just make the most out of everything and find a silver lining in life.” 
 
The team finished the regular season 12-2-1, the third best winning percentage in Class LL, during Landers first season on the sidelines. 
 
Landers, who had a two-decade tenure as the GHS boys coach, said the seniors have been the ideal group. 

​“They honor the traditions of the program and the players that came before them. They don't necessarily fill the shoes, they create their own paths and they look at that culture in the rear view mirror and create their own,” said Landers. “They’ve done a phenomenal job. They’ve connected and cared about each individual on this team and that’s all you can ask for.”