![Setter Emma Lee (9) sets the ball to the middle during the match against Pinewood on Sept. 12. “[I’m looking forward to] getting more skilled, learning more about my position and also becoming better friends with all of my teammates, Emma said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/DSC_4917-2-1200x795.jpg)
![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasnt been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but Ive had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. Theres so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesnt exist, you can build it yourself, Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“Animation just clicked in a way. I had been interested in art, but that felt different. [Animation] felt like it had something behind it, whereas previous things felt surface level. I wasnt making that crazy of things, but just the process of doing it was much more enjoyable, Carter Chadwick (22) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-16-at-9.44.08-AM-900x598.png)
![“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 its played such a major role in who Ive 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 Im [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)
![“[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)
![“Im 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 theres a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyones 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)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you arent going to get those championships if you arent 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)
![“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)
Varsity girls soccer suffers first loss of season on senior night
Goalie Amla Rashingkar (12) laughs during the halftime ceremony. “The seniors are also sweet and supportive and really fun to hang out with at practice, and I’m sad that they are leaving the team. We’ve all improved so much from the beginning of the season, so it’s important to me that I got a chance to celebrate the seniors and formally say goodbye to them,” Kara said.
February 8, 2020
The varsity girls soccer fell 1-0 against Crystal Springs for their first loss of the season on senior night on Tuesday, bringing their overall record to 12-1-3.
Both teams initially struggled to score, with the score tied at 0-0 heading into halftime.
During halftime, four seniors were honored: goalie Amla Rashingkar, team manager Allie Lee, and players Arushi Netty and Larissa Tyagi. The team created cut-out posters of the senior girls’ faces, gifting them one by one to the seniors along with colorful flower bouquets and fleece blankets.
Sarah Baicher (11), described the senior night as both a remembrance of the seniors’ dedication, as well as a “celebration” of their “commitment” and “impact” to the team.
“It’s just really important to let them know how much we value them,” Sarah said. “I loved being able to give them flowers and posters that we made ourselves, with all their friends and family surrounding them and supporting and cheering for them because they really deserve it.”
Allie, first to receive the senior gifts, recalls her four years on the girls’ soccer team. Although she no longer plays this season, Allie still found ways to stay connected to the soccer team by becoming the team manager.
“It makes me really really happy and nostalgic because it’s the end of four years playing soccer with my team,” Allie said. “This night means a lot because the team has done so much for me, and they have always encouraged me throughout my entire high school career. I’m gonna miss them a lot, so it’s a really bittersweet moment.
For freshman Kara Kister (9), attending her first senior night with the team was both momentous and rewarding.
“The seniors are also sweet and supportive and really fun to hang out with at practice, and I’m sad that they are leaving the team. We’ve all improved so much from the beginning of the season, so it’s important to me that I got a chance to celebrate the seniors formally say goodbye to them,” Kara said.
After the girls handed out their handmade presents, head coach Iman Siadat presented a short speech, noting the dedication the seniors have put in throughout the year and encouraging the team to pull through in the second half.
Despite the loss, the girls rebounded later in the week to win an 8-0 blowout at Mercy San Francisco, bringing their record to 13-1-3 and WBAL Skyline league record to 10-1-1, securing the league championship for the first time since 2014.
The Eagles will next host the Central Coast Section (CCS) qualifying match on Feb. 19 at 3:30 on Davis Field, hoping to secure an automatic berth to the CCS playoffs.
