Varsity and JV players took part in the annual Purple and White soccer scrimmage match, despite the sporadic snow, as a way to get the players more comfortable on the field as a team and test out different combinations of positions.

“We always have a purple and white scrimmage to figure out team dynamics and positions, especially for freshmen,” senior Varsity soccer player Catherine Dehaemers said. “The game helps us to play 11v11 on a full field before our first game, and it’s our first scrimmage of the season, so I think that it makes everyone feel more comfortable in their position and with the other players.”

The scrimmage incorporates athletes from both the Varsity and JV teams, and the coaches mixed the teams up to see how people excelled in different environments.

“The purpose [of the game] is to give each team a chance to be put in a game situation before the season starts and see how each team looks,” junior Varsity soccer co-captain Gabby Grimaldi said. “The teams aren’t random. It starts as JV vs. Varsity but people are often moved around.”

This game also helps prepare the team for the regular season, figuring out what areas need the most improvement and then gives the team time to work out any kinks. For the seniors especially, it is a time to strengthen the field chemistry they have developed together over the past three years, according to senior Varsity player Afton Fennewald.

“Being a senior on the team is always fun and exciting; all six seniors have been playing together for the last three years and have gotten really close,” Fennewald said. “The purpose of purple and white is to have a game before the regular season starts to work things out and get used to new positions.”

The score was not kept during this scrimmage, but the players’ respective performances will then help the coaches figure out what team dynamic will be best. This scrimmage kicked off the soccer season, and soon the team will travel to Wisconsin to play their annual match against Divine Savior Holy Angels High School.

“The team travels to Milwaukee this year and we stay at DSHA,” Dehaemers said. “I am so excited to see all of the girls on the team and stay there for the weekend.”

With an entire season ahead of games and practices, Dehaemers is more excited than anything else for the team to bond even further and just do their very best.

“As a team, I think that we all hope to make it to State and hopefully win,” Dehaemers said. “National polls and rankings don’t matter to us; we just love playing together.”