With one game remaining before playoffs begin, the Fairfax Lady Lions are having a tremendous season. The team is (10-0-2) overall and (4-0-2) in the Patriot District.
Under Head Coach Glenn Alpert in his first year leading the Fairfax High School Girl’s Soccer program, the focal point was set from day one and the first practice with this year’s team.
“If we keep the focus of continual improvement over the long-term from the beginning of the season to the end, we will eventually reach that higher level as a team,” said Alpert. “It’s step-by-step, week by week, game by game, a gradual accumulation of small improvements… and always building on the previous performance.”
The team has indeed been building its system of play in Alpert’s first year, which has paid off, winning every game so far this spring except for a scoreless 0-0 tie against Woodson and an intense 1-1 tie game last Friday against South County, with both games extending into overtime with a playoff feel.
“There are so many games where we have to keep our foot on the gas pedal even if we are leading, and the game is just within one or two goals...the league is so competitive, and we have to go 100% until the last minute,” said Alpert.
Before taking on the job as the head coach this season, Alpert has had an extensive coaching record. He switched from coaching boy’s club soccer teams to girl’s teams in 2016. He was named NCSL “Girl’s Coach of the Year” last spring.
“Taking a girl’s team from a younger age group all the way through to the older ones was just a natural segue towards being a head coach at the high school level,” said Alpert.
Before every game, there are five points that the team emphasizes, which set the players’ mentality to perform at their peak level: give 100%, fight for every ball, no shots in the defensive third, take away time and space, and be brave and aggressive, according to the coach.
Jay Liwanag, assistant varsity coach and head JV coach, said that on top of the team mentality, the returning and incoming players’ high soccer IQ’s have helped with the team’s success on the field this season.
“High school sports have always appealed to me because of the opportunity to not only represent your school but to have the players everyday training, giving us coaches an opportunity to see their growth up close,” said Liwanag.
Fairfax’s last game against South County had a playoff feel to it when the team was down 1-0 after the first 25 minutes of play. Under coach Alpert’s first time playing against South County, the team knew that South County was going to be prepared and well-coached.
“That game was the first time all year that we’ve been down a goal. We knew that psychologically the team had not experienced that yet, and it was the first time we saw our team really shift gears into playoff mode and playoff mentality,” said Alpert.
Along the way this season, the team also picked up non-district wins against teams like Herndon, Falls Church, Marshall, and Annandale. Alpert attributed some of the team’s key players to these critical wins this season. Margaret “Molly” Brunk, senior goalkeeper, has played every minute of the season. Two center-backs, Hope Ku-DiPietro and Gaelen McCarty, have anchored the defense for the team, and Irene Orndorff has anchored the central midfield position.
Senior Valeria Castillo leads the team with seven goals and five assists thus far. Sophom*ore Kiera Chang follows second by having four goals and five assists this season. Sophom*ore Y-Lan Nguyen, despite missing the first half of the season with U16 Women’s Youth National Team duty, has tallied five goals and two assists.
“When we started with the program, there was a learning curve and an adaption period to our style. For returning players next year, they will already be coming in at that level, and we can accelerate next year instead of starting from square one. The talent is there, but the training takes time, we are seeing it all click and come together now at the end of the season,” said Alpert.
This season’s momentum is hoped to be long-lasting and carry into future years in the program, according to the coach. But for now, the Fairfax Lady Lions are set to cap off their regular season at home against Alexandria City on May 9, followed by district playoffs on May 11.
