Girls’ soccer uses teamwork to climb into first place

The Culver City girls soccer team is currently 10-2-2 overall and 2-0 in the tough Ocean league, which is good enough for first place.  Why are the Centaurs playing so well?  According to head coach Scott Mair, its’ team chemistry.

“Right now we are playing championship soccer,” said Mair last week after their 1-0 win over El Segundo.  “The kids are buying into what we are trying to accomplish.  One of the main things that has happened this year is we are building trust between the players and coaches. That’s so important.  It helps us to bond together.”

Another thing that has really helped the lady Centaurs is the play of goal keeper Emily Cadena.  Her intensity and field awareness has really paid off.  “One of the keys to our improvement is our goal keeping and the play of out back line,” said Mair. “Our goal keeper is really playing smart soccer right now,” said Mair.  “She is doing a great job. We have only allowed 11 goals scored against us in 14 games.”

Against El Segundo last week Marilyn Hernandez took a pass form Melissa Ramirez and scored the only goal of the game.  “I am real proud of this group of girls,” said Mair.  Everybody has everybody’s back on and off the field.  Everything is coming together.  It’s fantastic.”

The communication lines have opened up according to Mair. “When someone needs to miss practice for tutoring or a doctor’s appointment they let me know right away.  A few years ago that did not happen.  The kids are maturing and so and I am getting wiser with age.  If there was one thing I learned from Jerry Chabola is if the kids don’t do well in the classroom they will not be eligible to play in the games.”

Their next game is Friday when they travel to Hawthorne for a 3 p.m. match and next week they stay on the road when they face Beverly Hills at 3 p.m. next Wednesday.  The boys soccer team will host Hawthorne on Friday at 6 p.m. and Beverly Hills next Wednesday at 6 p.m.  Their current record is 5-7-3.