![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasn't been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but I've had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. There's so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesn't exist, you can build it yourself," Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“When I came into high school, I was ready to be a follower. But DECA was a game changer for me. It helped me overcome my fear of public speaking, and it's played such a major role in who I've become today. To be able to successfully lead a chapter of 150 students, an officer team and be one of the upperclassmen I once really admired is something I'm [really] proud of,” Anvitha Tummala ('21) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-25-at-9.50.05-AM-900x594.png)
![“I think getting up in the morning and having a sense of purpose [is exciting]. I think without a certain amount of drive, life is kind of obsolete and mundane, and I think having that every single day is what makes each day unique and kind of makes life exciting,” Neymika Jain (12) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Screen-Shot-2017-06-03-at-4.54.16-PM.png)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you aren't going to get those championships if you aren't fast,” Angel Cervantes (12) said. “I want to do well in school on my tests and in track and win championships for my team. I live by that, [and] I can do that anywhere: in the classroom or on the field.”](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/DSC5146-900x601.jpg)
![“[Volleyball has] taught me how to fall correctly, and another thing it taught is that you don’t have to be the best at something to be good at it. If you just hit the ball in a smart way, then it still scores points and you’re good at it. You could be a background player and still make a much bigger impact on the team than you would think,” Anya Gert (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AnnaGert_JinTuan_HoHPhotoEdited-600x900.jpeg)
![“I'm not nearly there yet, but [my confidence has] definitely been getting better since I was pretty shy and timid coming into Harker my freshman year. I know that there's a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyone's so driven and that has really pushed me to kind of try to find my own place in high school and be more confident,” Alyssa Huang (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AlyssaHuang_EmilyChen_HoHPhoto-900x749.jpeg)
Both boys and girls Varsity soccer teams defeated their opponents, Pinewood 3-0 and Eastside College Prep 6-0 respectively, at the Kicks Against Cancer games yesterday.
In the first half, neither team for the boys scored until Deniz Celik (12) made a goal about 30 minutes into the game. During the second half, Maverick McNealy (12) and Simar Mangat (12) each made a goal, raising the score to 3-0. During the entire match, the team successfully defended against Pinewood’s offense multiple times, including several saves by goalie Kyle Roter (12).
The girls, on the other hand, scored within the first five minutes of their game with senior Sondra Costa’s goal. The first half also saw goals made by sophomores Alyssa Amick and Safia Khouja. During the second half, Sondra and Safia again scored one goal each, bringing the final score to 6-0.
Varsity soccer player Dennis Moon (11) noted that one of the reasons for their win was that the team members did not become overconfident when victory was in sight.
“Last game we were winning 1-0 and then we tied 1-1 at the last minute so that was disappointing. I think the fact that we were winning made us sloppy,” he said. “This game, I think we learned from our mistake and stayed on top of things.”
Sophomore Alyssa Amick, one of the captains of the girls’ Varsity soccer team, acknowledged that communication was a major factor the team tried to improve.
“I think we really just wanted to work on communicating more as a team and working together as a team,” she said. “We have some pretty good skill out there on the field, and I think it’s just about getting everyone to work together.”
The boys Varsity head coach Shaun Tsakiris mentioned that the boys have improved since their performance in previous games.
“They trained the right way and their attitude has been fantastic and they’ve been pretty dedicated to the season,” Tsakiris said. “Anytime you have that, you’re going to get better.”
The Kicks Against Cancer event drew many spectators into the stands. Besides the games, students enjoyed snacks, a raffle drawing, and two rounds of “Butts-Up” in which participants launched soccer balls at teachers for a dollar each.
“I think it’s really special because we have a lot of people out here to support the team; that’s creating really spirited vibe,” Bobby Kahlon (12) said.
As the season continues, both teams have several games planned ahead of them. The girls Varsity head coach Jason Berry explained what skills he wants the girls to develop.
“Probably [the] number one area: finishing,” Berry said. “We can carry the ball down the field and work the ball across the field, down the field, but [we need to] start finishing more with a polished touch. Not necessarily score more goals but to take more shots. You have to take shots in order to score goals.”
The boys Varsity team’s next home game takes place today at 2:30 p.m. against Eastside College Prep, while the girls face Mercy High School, San Francisco this Thursday at 3:30 p.m.
