CFNN Reporter Karina Phair

The 2022-2023 Conference Overview
The 2024 Girls Soccer Conference kicks off on February 21st.
Points and Scores
The Girls Varsity Soccer Team had a very successful 2023 season. They had a total of 13 wins and 1 loss. Their overall score for the season was a whopping 18 wins and 6 losses.
The Girl’s Junior Varsity Soccer Team also ended their spectacular conference, standing with a score of 1 win and 1 loss. Their overall score was 8 wins, 1 loss, and 1 tie.
The JV team scored multiple goals, adding up to 32 for their team and 3 goals against their team. The Varsity team made a total of 117 goals for their team and 36 against their team. They obtained a losing streak along the way, starting out with one loss.
The Team
There is a combined total of 38 players on both the JV and the Varsity soccer teams, 16 players on the JV Team and 22 players on the Varsity Team. There can be anywhere from 18-22 players on the roster.
Some players on the team who have shown sufficient amounts of improvement on the team are Abbikate Daughtry, Kaleigh Jacobs, and Mallory Cavey.
The Girl’s Soccer Team will play Douglas Byrd, Purnell Swett, Seventy-First, Lumberton, South View, and Cape Fear.

Coach’s Interview: Brayan Pagan, Head Coach of the Girl’s Soccer Team
Do you like coaching soccer?
He says “Yes, it is actually a passion of mine.” This is something that he enjoys doing.

What’s your favorite part about the team that you coach?
“I love getting to know the kids and watching them grow, not only as players but as people as well.”

How does your team work together, as far as cooperation?
Pagan believes that his players are already pretty friendly with each other. They get along great and communicate with each other very well.

“We’ve had seniors come and leave from the team so for them to be able to talk with the other new players so easily is a good skill to have.”

Do you see yourself coaching Girls soccer for many more years?
“As long as I’m here,”says Pagan.

What style do you use when coaching (how do you coach)?
“I would say hands-on. I’m still a very active person and I’m able to help them that way and actually play with them. Not a lot of coaches are still active so they are not able to demonstrate everything to their players. I am also able to communicate my feelings and expectations with them and they are able to talk to me. So yeah, I would say that I’m a player’s coach.”

What do you enjoy when coaching?
“I enjoy the competition and watching the kids’ growth on the team.”

How are you helping your team grow and excel?
I love to motivate and push his players but he wants to make the experience enjoyable for them. He also tries to help them better manage their emotions when playing the sport.

How often does the team practice and what do practices look like on a casual day?
“We practice about 3-4 times a week.” Pagan says “On an average day, they usually do some technical training training, drills that work on footwork, and running. After games, we usually do some lower impact training like a game of tag, just to keep their blood flowing.

What was your favorite game from last season?
He says that his favorite was definitely when they beat Gray’s Creek on their Senior Night. There was a lot of emotion and effort put into that game and he was proud of his team for doing their best.

How do you think this season will go and end?
“Well, we are predicted to win,” says Pagan. Cape Fear has won the conference 3 years in a row so the probability of our school’s team winning again this year is very high.

What are some tips you have for future soccer players?
“Train. definitely train.” Pagan says that the players have to be disciplined and willing to reach goals, whether that’s playing in your backyard, dribbling the ball, or practicing your footwork. Training needs to be done in and out of season in order to stay disciplined.
Some players think that all of the training and preparing can only be done in season. So, that’s a very important thing to keep in mind when playing a sport.

Player’s Interview: Nariyah Hair, A Sophomore Defender on the Varsity Girls Soccer Team
Here’s what she had to say:

What do you like about your soccer team?
“I think our team works really well together as far as cooperation.” “ We’re all friendly on the team and I think we do really well, there’s not a lot of fighting and arguing.”

Do you like your position and what do you like about it?
“So, I play forward and there are a lot of players on our team with that position but I think our playing time is pretty evenly distributed, our coach does a good job of making sure we all get to play.”

In your opinion, what was the highlight of your conference?
“It would have to be beating Gray’s creek. Especially because it was an away game and we were at their home. We lost the first time to them but we finally beat them at their Senior Night. That was definitely the highlight of it for me.”

What grade are you in and what team are you on?
“I’m a sophomore, I’m on varsity. I was a Freshman on varsity.”

Why soccer?
“Well, I started playing soccer when I was 4. I’ve always loved it, I would commentate my own games. Like, Nariyah shoots.. She scores and the crowd goes wild!!! Stuff like that, but that’s pretty much what started it.”

What is the hardest part of soccer?
“Definitely losing, nobody likes to lose. We didn’t lose that much, we only lost one game but still, it just doesn’t feel good.”

Do you see yourself playing soccer in college? Why or why not?
“Although I do love soccer, in reality for me, I want to go further in my academic career than in my athletic career. I really aspire to be a profound marine biologist.”

What are some inspiring words that you have for new, upcoming soccer players?
“Hard work will always out work talent when talent doesn’t work hard. My dad has been telling me this since the start, and it’s very true.
You can see many players that succumb to laziness and negative attitudes towards their teammates, ruining teams. Coach has always told us as well that negative attitudes are like cancer and kill teams.”

Overall the girls are set up for an amazing season. The girls had a very successful season, and they all look to build off of this previous success, and exceed expectations this year as well.