Eagles learn about character in physical 4-0 victory against the South Bronx

"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved."
-Helen Keller

In the first cold game of the season, the Eagles faced South Bronx High School for the second and last time. Despite some significant battles, physical and otherwise, the HSES Eagles came out with a 4-0 victory. Karla Kirsch, the newest Eagles Team Captain, again stormed the South Bronx Phoenix net only 10 minutes into the first half to score the first goal of the game for the third time this season. Karla now has 6 goals this season, ranking her in third place for total goals scored in the Bronx/Manhattan B-1 division. Her aggressive play and relentless attacking mentality served her well on Sunday. Just ten minutes later on a free kick, Eagles defender Camille Fernandez lined up to run a set-play that went just over the goal, hit the crossbar, and bounced back into play. Speedy forward Jenna Aboulafia followed up with a rebound to tally the second goal of the game. Later in the second half, team captain Yesenia Cornejo received a beautiful cross, opened up with a touch to her left side, and scored a beautiful third goal across the keeper into the right side of the net.

The Eagles went into the second half confident but not comfortable, and the defense ran a much more organized defensive game guided by the leadership of Michelle Guerrero and Camille Fernandez. On the defensive end, the ball was kept in play, cleared to the outside, and taken up the sidelines, which is exactly what the Eagle defense has been practicing all season. On a corner kick midway through the second half, freshman Karla Ramirez sent a long ball across to Jenna Aboulafia who crashed the box to net her second goal of the game (her 5th of the season), making her the 5th-ranked goal-scorer currently in the division.

The Player of the Game was awarded to Camille Fernandez (right), with one assist and over a dozen plays on the back line that were handled with composure, intelligence, and skill. Camille will be looking forward to some drop-passes in future games to send back into the opponents' 18-yard box. Her game has greatly improved since last year and the coaches are excited to see her stepping into more of a leadership role on the team.

At the end of the day, despite high intensity and emotions from both teams as a result of aggressive play on the field, the Eagles walked away not only with a win, but with a greater understanding of their responsibility as players to respect the game, their opponents, the referees, their teammates, and most importantly, themselves. Playing with respect against any type of team is what determines your character, and the development of character is a continuous process. This is not to say that it is encouraged to forget hard times and lapses of character on the field, but rather, to remember them and challenge yourself to grow from them. As the Eagles coaches and captains often say at practice, "Everyday we can choose to get better or we can choose to remain the same. Today we choose to get better."

The Eagles face Harlem Choir Academy on Thursday, October 7th at Harlem River Park A. Good Luck, Eagles!