Eyes focused on the ball, stance ready to block the ball from entering the goal, Miranda Sullivan and Carter Jones block the ball as goalkeepers on the girls and boys varsity soccer team at Bowie High School. 

“I started playing soccer when I was in kindergarten,” girls varsity goalie Sullivan said. “I’ve always loved sports and I wanted to try them all to see which one I liked the most and soccer was that sport.” 

With high nerves before games, Jones and Sullivan find ways to decompress and stay stress-free in anticipation. 

“I listen to music to help myself mentally and I do a couple of stretches to help myself physically before the game,” Jones said. 

Physical practices can also be helpful for goalies to warm up their legs in preparation for jumps and dives. 

“I prepare myself physically by stretching and warming up on my arms and I prepare myself mentally by listening to music and talking with my goalie buddy Fiona,” Sullivan said. 

Along with their roles on varsity teams, Jones and Sullivan are accomplished athletes who have had opportunities on the national scale and among high ranks of players. These accomplishments have guided the goalies towards college offers so they can continue their athletic career. But for many players, the friendships built on the team are the most valuable. 

“One of my biggest accomplishments playing soccer was when I was younger and my club team was competing against another team to be tournament champions and the game went to PK’s 

and my team won the PK shootout and I made three saves,” Sullivan said. “My experience playing on a high school team has taught me how I can support my teammates in different ways and how to work well with them.”
Sullivan will also be continuing soccer and practicing more to improve for the future.

“My future goals for soccer are to keep improving for college and enjoy my last four years of soccer,” Sullivan said.