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Ashley Chavez

The girls enjoyed their time on and off the field.

Over the winter break, the Yorba Linda Women’s Soccer team embarked on a very memorable trip to Hawaii. The team stayed in Oahu and took on three competitive teams. Mililani High School, Campbell High School, and Waialua High School brought the team a competitive environment getting them ready to enter the season strong and ready. YL was able to secure a win and two ties. The girls worked hard, not letting any team beat them as they traveled almost 1,500 miles to play their final pre-season games. The girls not only played games, but put in some training as well. Jesse Lee (12), captain of the women’s soccer team, remembers how fun it was to wake up in the morning and train on the beach, “just being in the sand and playing soccer right next to waves was the best part of my morning.” The team trained every morning, alternating different types of training, whether it be soccer, volleyball, mini tournaments, or recovery sessions; every session was a memorable one.

Besides soccer, the girls also had many activities to do throughout the day. Simple games like spoons, speed-Q&A, and improv skits were something that was done everyday so that the team could have a good laugh and really bond throughout the trip. The girls were also able to attend Cirque Du Soleil. Kayla Duke(12), a player on the team, remembers that show like it was yesterday, “it was so great to be able to experience such an amazing show with the girls because we were all on the edge of our seats.”

Many things were put into this trip to make it memorable. An amazing thing they did was make Hawaiian bracelets for their competitors, although it took meticulous skills and a bit of time, the girls were able to learn about Hawaiian culture and make a gift for the girls on the island. Their competitors very much appreciated this as they hosted the Yorba Linda team at a barbecue after the first game. The girls got to taste Hawaiian cuisine and bond with their competitors and learn more about people on the island.
All in all, this trip was definitely memorable, competitive, and fun for the girls. While the trip was for pre-season games they also had a lot of activities and events planned in their trip to make it a bonding trip for the team. This trip will definitely set them apart from teams during the season as their chemistry will be off the charts and will help them work their way up to first place.