Despite eight players being suspended from the team for violating league rules by participating in a club soccer showcase, the girls soccer team remains resilient according to new head coach Jeremy Romero.

Though the team lost its Jan. 27 game against Mountain View, Romero said the team put forth a solid effort. The team’s previous coach is no longer with the team as a result of the club showcase controversy.

“We lost 3-0, but I don’t think the score reflects how hard the girls worked and what we have been working towards: attitude and their work ethic,” Romero said.

According to team captain and junior Kiana Feldis, despite the team’s struggles, it has been making progress.

“This season was kind of a rough start, but I feel we’re starting to work together really well,” Feldis said.

Now that the season has come to a halfway point, the team is playing against schools a second time, and junior Alessandra Chandler said they hope to turn it around in the last half of the season.

“We have opportunities to score and the potential to win a game,” Chandler said. “We just need to take more shots.”

According to Romero, it is difficult to maintain progress throughout the year due to the short nature of the athletic season.

“(Coaching) high school, you work with (the team) for only three months, and then you don’t see them for the rest of (the year),” Romero said. “So, you have to do your best in getting these girls that aren’t familiar with how everyone plays and getting the chemistry going.”

But Chandler said the team still finds ways to create strong bonds with each other, despite the limited time-frame, such as going out to dinner together.

“We have grown closer over those three months because we have practice every morning at 7 a.m. and a lot of games,” Chandler said.

Romero said a critical part in performing well is maintaining a positive mental space. After every game, Romero said he checks in with each player and congratulates them to ensure each athlete is appreciated.

“They are going to be their biggest critic, not the fans, not the teammates, themselves,” Romero said. “If you continue to focus on the negative things, negative things will happen. (If you) focus on the positive things, positive things will happen.”