The Lady Pride held their Senior Night on Wednesday against Wakefield High School. The game ended 1-1 in regulation after Wakefield scored a late goal in the last 20 seconds off a corner kick. The teams went on to play two ten-minute overtime periods but remained scoreless and ended in a tie.
This year’s senior night honored the team’s three seniors: Jordan Mareno, Megan Purich and Caroline Smith. All three of the seniors have played on the same team with each other since freshman year. The players started out on jv and moved up to varsity their sophomore year, making them three-year lettermen.
Jordan Mareno, number 8 and a captain, is attending UNC Chapel Hill next fall and is majoring in business journalism. Mareno is the only senior who got pulled up to varsity for playoffs her freshman year. She played forward for the Pride until she sustained a broken ankle earlier in the season against Enloe. The injury required surgery which put her out for the rest of the season. Mareno was a tremendous loss for the Pride, but she continued to come to all the games sporting a Carolina blue cast.
Megan Purich, number 2, will be attending UNC Wilmington next fall. Purich has been a starting defender for the Pride for three years and is said to be one of the toughest players Leesville has. Purich is very involved in the sports medicine program at Leesville and will continue in the medical field as she majors in nursing at UNCW.
Caroline Smith, number 3, will also be attending UNC Wilmington but will be majoring in business. Smith has been a starting defender for the Pride for three years just like Purich. Together they have only given up an impressive 11 goals this season.
Mareno, Purich and Smith have been some of the best role models a senior class has ever seen.
“The seniors optimize what high school soccer players are all about. They are modest, they are low maintenance and high output. The girls have improved every season and are dedicated to Leesville soccer. They always put the team first and are good soccer players but even better people,” said Paul Dinkenor, head coach of Pride soccer.
