The 2008 Girls Red soccer team capped off a thrilling weekend at the FC Delco Fall Showcase, going undefeated with a 3-0 record. Head coach Jocelyn Santo sat down to discuss the team's performance, their preparation, and what this victory means for their development as a squad heading into the 2024-25 season.

A Challenging Start, But a Strong Finish

Coach Santo began by breaking down the weekend’s games, starting with a tough first match in freezing temperatures. "The weekend started with a challenging first game in freezing temperatures," she said. "We struggled to find our rhythm early, but eventually broke through with a perfectly executed breakaway securing a 1-0 win."

The team’s resilience and adaptability were on full display in the second and third games, where they controlled the tempo and leaned into their possession-based style of play. "In the second and third games, we leaned into our possession-based style of play, controlling the tempo and frustrating our opponents," Santo noted. The results were dominant: three goals in the second match and two in the final, with the defense holding firm to keep a clean sheet throughout the weekend.

Overcoming the Challenge of Short-Term Preparation

With many of the players returning from high school playoff runs just days before the showcase, the team’s preparation was far from typical. Coach Santo explained how balancing recovery and readiness was a key challenge. "Almost all of the players were returning from deep High School playoff runs, so preparing for the showcase presented a unique challenge," she shared. "Balancing recovery with readiness was critical. We focused on managing the training load to ensure we weren’t overworked while still preparing intensely."

Despite the short turnaround, the team was able to gel quickly, and the results reflected the coaching staff's thoughtful approach. "It was about finding the right rhythm and cohesion after not playing with each other since June."

Motivation and Excitement Heading into the New Season

After the first game, where the team felt they did not quite meet their usual standards, the players rallied and came back stronger. "The motivation to improve was evident in the following matches," said Coach Santo. The excitement was palpable, not only because of the team's performance, but also due to the presence of over 25 college coaches watching from the sidelines. "The girls were ecstatic with how they performed. It was a great opportunity to showcase the progress we’ve made and step into our season with confidence," she added.

A Stepping Stone for Team and Individual Development

Reflecting on the significance of the weekend’s victories, Coach Santo emphasized that the wins were more than just a boost in the win-loss column. "The wins are more than just results – they’re stepping stones in both our team and individual development," she explained. "We’re aiming for our third consecutive trip to Regionals and hopefully a ticket to nationals. This weekend proved we’re on the right track, but we still have more work to do."

The coach praised the way the players were beginning to gel together as a unit. "The players are starting to gel together, and we’re committed to increasing the quality of our play moving forward," she said.

Preparing for Winter Training and Spring Competitions

Looking ahead to the winter and spring, Coach Santo discussed how the team would continue to evolve. "We’ll review our video footage from the weekend to identify areas of improvement and build our sessions around those insights," she said. "This team is incredibly coachable, and I’m confident they’ll continue to develop technically and tactically as we prepare for the spring season."

For Coach Santo, the weekend at the FC Delco Fall Showcase was just the beginning. With a blend of individual talent, team cohesion, and a clear path forward, the 2008 Girls Red team is poised for another successful season as they aim for regional and national competition. The excitement is high, and the future looks bright for this determined squad.