Written by Keeper Trinity Banister for the FCS Girls Soccer Instagram Account, the following column is a reprint from its original form.
Every season starts with a dream in mind. For the varsity girls’ soccer team, that dream was to win the CIF DIV Central Section Valley Championship. They worked hard, set goals, and came together as a team, ready to take on whatever came their way. But as the season went on, they realized they were capable of even more than their initial goal. They not only made it to Valley Finals, but made it all the way to the State Finals, something no one really thought of, not even them.
Head Coach Matt Markarian led a victorious season, full of unprecedented achievements
“Our program is at a place where we believe we can consistently compete for a Valley Championship. We set up the schedule that is appropriate to give us both tough challenges and confidence,” Markarian said. “We like the evolution to happen naturally and organically as the team develops confidence and belief in itself. The team this year was a perfect example of that it overachieved at almost every level.”
The team began their season with a strong sense of purpose. The field became more than just a place to play; it was a place to give everything they had. They didn’t know how far they’d go, but they knew they were going to give it their all. Hailey Higton, ’27, had a devastating freshman season after a first-round playoff exit, but that drove her to approach her sophomore season with fierce ambition.
“Having a strong sense of purpose on the field can completely change how a team approaches challenges on and off the field. When everyone knows why they are working and what our ultimate goal is… which was to glorify God throughout sport and… win a valley championship, it helped us create a hunger and drive every day to work hard at practice and at all games,” Higton said. “I feel like off the field our purpose helped us also strengthen and build relationships with one another! For me, I’m so glad I got to play with a group of girls who want to work hard and have fun. This was the best season of soccer yet; I can’t wait for what’s in store for the future!”
Behind every great team is a coaching staff that understands how to push players to reach their potential. Our coaches at Fresno Christian have done just that. Markarian and the rest of the staff not only focused on improving our soccer skills, but they also taught us how to be strong, both mentally and physically. They believed in the team even when we doubted ourselves. Senior Captain and homeschooler Abigail Herren has played under the FC coaching staff for four seasons and holds two Valley Championship hats because of their leadership.
“Knowing my coaches believe in me frees me to take risks on the field and motivates me to give it my all because I want to make them proud,” Herren said. “The coaching staff has created an environment where the girls can push themselves and always aim higher. They make the girls focus on more than just the win; they teach them how to stay strong when things get tough and how to be there for each other, no matter what.”
What makes the varsity girl’s soccer team so special isn’t just the skills on the field; it’s the bond they share. It’s the way they lift each other up when someone falls, the way they cheer each other on, and how they always know that no matter what happens, they’re a team. Junior Captain Meghan Connolly acknowledges that the bond between the players was a significant contribution to their achievements.
“Our team’s bond was one that I’ve never ever had before on any team I’ve been a part of and I think that played a huge role in helping us succeed. There was no cliques, no hate, no arguments; just sister like love for one another. We would always show up to games with smiles on our faces and positive mindsets, knowing that as a team we were going to work together to achieve greatness,” Connolly said. “There is no question. Our team was not the most skillful, and we did not make it all the way to the end by our skills. I personally feel every time I stepped onto the field, I had 10 girls cheering me on and on my side. Not to mention the supporting coaches and players on the bench. I am so grateful to have played with such a special group of girls that was devoted to encouragement and never let that spirit go away.”
Every player has a unique strength. Some are great at scoring, others at defense, and some at keeping the team together. But what makes them successful is how they play off each other, how every player knows that no matter their role, they are essential to the team’s success. One of the most incredible moments this season came in the middle of a tense playoff game. Down by a goal, with just a few seconds left on the clock, the team kept fighting. They didn’t give up.
With their backs against the wall, senior Captain Kennedy Wyatt scored an equalizing goal off of a free kick, pushing them into overtime. The crowd went wild.
“In the final moments of the game, grit, integrity, and tenacity is ultimately what it comes down to. It’s who wants it more. During the South game, we wanted it more. We weren’t done,” Wyatt said. “We had been through so much throughout the season with injury, sickness, and roadblocks: it wasn’t an option to go out first round again. It takes one player. One player to lift another, who lifts another, who lifts another. We build up each other. It takes one player to bring that energy and inspire the whole team to persevere.” That moment was proof that the team wasn’t just playing for themselves; they were playing for each other.
No season is ever easy. There were times when the team faced huge obstacles, whether it was injuries, setbacks, or tough opponents. But through it all, they never gave up. Each time something went wrong, they came together, found a way to fix it, and kept moving forward. One of the most inspiring stories of the season was when freshman goalkeeper Trinity Bannister had to recover from a major injury. She worked hard to get back on the field, and her teammates supported her every step of the way.
“I didn’t know if I could make it back in time for playoffs; I seriously thought my season was over,” Bannister said. “But every day, everyone in my corner pushed me to get better. They made me believe I could do it. And when I got back out there, it felt like I was coming home.” This kind of resilience is what sets the team apart. It’s not just about the goals scored or the games won; it’s about how they face challenges head-on, together.
Junior Danielle Arndt hadn’t been playing soccer for long when a devastating ACL tear ended her season. The setback could have distanced her from the sport and her team, but it instead revealed a deeper sense of camaraderie. Through the challenge, she discovered that her role on the team went beyond just playing on the field.
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“My injury was life-altering, but God does not alter our lives without a purpose. I was blessed to have several weeks of time with my team, forging friendships on the field that God knew I needed as I entered into a trying season of life,” Arndt said. “Those girls came around me when I was at my lowest, proving that despite my inability to play the sport I had grown to love, I was not any less of a team member. My team became a reason to get out of my house when I had reached a dark place, and because they had been there for me, I could return the favor, pulling up to games, crutches and all.”
On game day, Jane Higton worked to bring laughter and excitement to the team. It’s not just the players who make the team special; it’s the fans, too. The students, parents, and teachers who cheer them on, whether they’re winning or losing, make every moment of the season feel like something bigger than just a game. The bleachers were always packed, and the energy was incredible.
“It creates a community because even the people that don’t care for soccer come out to support us, and it is just so encouraging to see all my family and friends in the stands,” Jane Higton, ’27, said. “It gives me the energy to keep playing my hardest.”
The team’s hard work and dedication have brought the school together. Everyone feels like they’re part of the journey, and that support is something the players will always carry with them.
As the season moved forward and the team pushed toward the State Finals, it became clearer that their journey would leave a lasting legacy. The lessons they learned about hard work, perseverance, and teamwork stayed with them long after the final whistle blew. Senior Mallory Friesen has been a part of the soccer program all four years of high school, working hard to have a playing position her last year.
“The resilience I’ve gained on the field will contribute to my everyday life off the field. Being on FCS girls soccer this year really showed me what working as a team can do and where it can take you,” Friesen said. “The diversity and injuries this team faced didn’t only affect one person but it affected us as a whole because of how much we were connected on and off the pitch,”
The varsity girl’s soccer team at Fresno Christian is more than just a group of athletes. They are proof that hard work and dedication can lead to greatness, even when the odds are stacked against you. Senior Milly Morgan emphasizes that the season was not all about winning the titles of State Finalists or Valley Champions; rather, it is about the journey, the growth, and the bond that this team shares.
“This year was very special for me for two reasons! First, since I am a senior, it’s my last year and it was extra unique that I was able to have the team I did this year. Second, this team was like nothing else I had ever been a part of. All of us loved each and every person on that team and worked out any differences both on and off the field by communicating with each other. We also all had an indescribable bond that made me so proud to be a part of. We got along so well, which made us want to play for one another on the field,” Morgan said. “This bond carried over to the soccer field in every game. We played as a team and the way a team should play… together! I hope that this season inspires the classmen below me as they understand what kind of team they hope to build in the next and following years! This year should be their standard for their future! Lastly, I want to say that I am proud. The simplest way to put it is that we ALL wanted it, and it showed. I am extremely proud of the way we worked to achieve what we did, and we worked to play as a team! This year and this team will forever be in my heart as my favorite soccer team I have ever been on.”
And as the next generation steps onto the field to face whatever comes next, one thing is certain: the varsity girls’ soccer team at Fresno Christian will continue to play with heart, pride, and an unbreakable bond that will carry them forward, no matter where the game takes them.
“Our sense of purpose comes from the Lord. Having that purpose from Him, and for Him, not only brings us closer to Him, but closer to each other,” Wyatt said. “This team is more than just soccer, we are a family on and off the field. We are for each other and for the Lord: one of the greatest things you could ever ask for.”
For more columns from The Feather visit: Food for Thought Health column: The hidden cost of convenience and Column: Echo chambers create unproductive environments for discussion.
