Barbie, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Beyonce, and Harry Potter took the field last night, October 13, at a star-studded senior night for North Penn’s girl’s soccer team.
For their “On the Red Carpet” theme, the seniors–captains, Kiara Forte (Barbie) and Megan Kelly (Harry Potter) along with Ally Smith (Lady Gaga) Ashley Vaitis (Britney Spears) and Lauren Williams (Beyonce)–walked down a red carpet with their family and friends before the start of the 7:30 varsity match.
Forte, Kelly, and Vaitis are all 4-year players and 4-year letter winners; Smith, a 4-year player and 2-year letter winner; and Williams, a 4-year player and 3-year letter winner.
The game got off to an odd start–when officials couldn’t get the “National Anthem” to play, the girls and fans took it upon themselves to sing instead–but quickly turned into a heated battle with a physical Souderton squad.
On the left side of the field juniors Haley Mangiaruga and Lizzie Kohler held consistent control–Mangiaruga in the backfield and Kohler up the wing–from which she eventually landed a shot far post for the only goal of the game.
Kelly and Forte forced the ball through on many occasions, keeping up strong offensive pressure and control of the ball in Souderton’s end of the pitch for most of the game.
The defensive end starred Smith and Vaitis holding strong against a physical Souderton front line, and junior Katie Huber boasting a commanding presence to help secure the shut out in the team’s 1-0 victory.
The vocal fans loved both the energy of the match and celebration of 2012’s graduating players: “Senior night is a great way to honor the senior’s commitment and dedication. It brings out the team–as well as the fans–spirit,” said seniors Brenda McDermott and Emily Hagan and junior Jenna Stover.
“It was a great season for the seniors. Our theme was Red Carpet and I couldn’t ask for better stars as seniors,” said head coach Jim Deaner.
“The juniors did a great job with senior night. It will be really memorable,” said Forte, Kelly, Smith, Wiliams, and Vaitis collectively. “North Penn soccer is a family. We all love each other.”