By Oonagh Yaged '25
On a warm and breezy Saturday morning, the Chez Nous Dragons faced The Mary Louis Academy Hilltoppers at Notre Dame’s home field on Randall’s Island. After some drills and stretching, a safety check allowed for the game to begin. The Mary Louis Academy kicked off to start the game, and they were off to the races!
“They’re hungry for a win,” said a Notre Dame parent. Injuries plagued many of the players this season, but that didn’t extinguish the fire under the Dragons. In fact, it heightened it.
The Dragons and Hilltoppers were at each other's throats, with lots of back and forth action. Goals blocked, shots almost made, and close calls.
In the first half, the ball soared in a long, high shot from just inside the midfield, resulting in a goal made by Liv Richards.
The riveting first half had concluded for halftime, giving the teams time to rest. Then, as soon as the first half ended, Notre Dame kicked off the second half.
“Girls, we’re falling asleep, let’s go!” Mary Louis’s coach shouted while the Dragons were back with a vengeance.
Unfortunately, a collision between the two players resulted in a Notre Dame player suffering an injury and stepping out of the game. This was not the end for the Dragons, though, as they persisted through the second half.
Midway through the second half, The Mary Louis Academy scored a goal.
Parents of Hilltoppers and Dragons alike were encouraging their daughters to “dig deep” in the final ten minutes of the game. More back and forth resulted in many close calls, making for an action-packed end to an exciting game. The final score was tied at one to one.
“We sometimes have trouble on the field with connecting and stuff, but we definitely bring it together at the end of every game,” said Maya Perez, a junior co-captain. “We’re always there for each other, and every player has to be a leader on the field and off the field,” she concluded.
“Being Captain is not just about being the best on the team or making these crazy runs, it’s about building a team and creating something really memorable, which is really important at a time like this. It’s about creating a safe space where people are allowed to say what they want to say and get their point across,” Kat Chang, who is a senior captain, said. “The goal is to be creative in your playmaking and to be bold in your decision making on the field. You never regress; you’re always rebuilding”.
The team spirit fostered by the Chez Nous Dragons shone through both during and after the game with constant words of encouragement and nods of reassurance from the fellow players.
Much more is left for the Chez Nous Dragons, as their winning season comes to a close.
All photos courtesy of ND Parents
Editors: Faith Lam '23, Natalia Cseh '23, Ms. Brilliant
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