Sacred Heart Prep’s Varsity Girls Soccer Team’s Historic Season

For the first time in Sacred Heart Prep’s history, the Varsity Girls Soccer team finished undefeated in the WCAL league and entered CCS in the open division. This success derived from various factors, each playing an influential role in the team’s success. An interview with head coach Armando Del Rio, an alumnus and soccer coach at Sacred Heart for the past 14 years, points towards the latest change in coaching staff and the team’s talented roster. This was Del Rio’s first year with the team after switching from the SHP Varsity Boys Soccer program after 13 years. Del Rio says the girls team is very strong, with nine seniors bringing important leadership to the underclassmen. He also said the coaching transition was a step in the right direction, since he had “been a part of the boys program for so long, [and] that [he] knew they needed someone new with fresh eyes and a new philosophy.” The change in coaching staff also motivated the team to “prove themselves to each other and coaches to earn each others’ trust.” Del Rio explains that this newfound competition “raises the level and mentality” of the game and “elevates the culture” of the sport, playing an immense role in the Gators’ success this season.
The teams new coaching staff with Del Rio and Mr. Jake Moffat, English Co-Department Head, Creative Inquiry Teacher, and returning soccer coach, brought a new and improved work ethic. Del Rio says that the girls would describe it as being “in the trenches” and “embracing the grind,” which was corroborated by captain Anna Basset ‘24, who noted that “the team shared a sense of motivation to just simply get stuff done.” This mindset brought fantastic results, including winning the WCAL league for the first time since 2017, being the first team in Sacred Heart soccer history to go undefeated in league, and competing in the CCS Open Division, the highest level the girls team has ever played in. The only team that bested SHP was Archbishop Mitty in an exciting 3-2 quarter final.
When asked about next season and the loss of their nine seniors, Del Rio says “as long as we have a culture where we are competing, trying to improve, and make it an enjoyable experience while playing at the highest level we can, I’m always going to be happy with that.” With promising returning players such as Lewa White and Lauren Bassett, the SHP Varsity Girls Soccer team will look to continue to achieve success in the coming seasons.