From the nerves of trying out as a freshmen, the learning sophomore year, the endless hours of training, to the pasta parties and huddling with your teammates/best friends, the feeling of not making playoffs to the feeling of standing there waiting during penalty kicks to win a state championship, all of these things suddenly hit an athlete as they enter the game on their senior year during the last season of the sport they have played for so long.

This was especially true for the seniors on the girls soccer team on Monday October 26th. We remember driving to the senior night game, feeling the rush of both nerves and excitement as our team song, “My House” by Flo Rida, came on the radio. This became the song that we listened to before every single game to get us pumped for the upcoming match.

As we entered the stadium, we saw the string of balloons and posters with all of the seniors names on them, and a smile instantly spread across our faces. We walked down to the field, dancing and getting warmed up with our teammates.

This match was especially important to us because a win would secure us the title of Division 1 South Champions. In the beginning of the season, our girls team was first in the running after beating our rivals South Kingstown 2 to 1 on September 9th,and went on a winning streak, despite a loss to East Greenwich in the beginning of the season. We had some close calls along the way, coming back from losing to Exeter West Greenwich by scoring four goals with 15 minutes left in the game.

However, after losing some matches, SK was close behind us for the Division title. On October 15th, we faced SK again at their field. SK beat us 2 to 1, meaning that they were now in first place for the South Division, but only by a point. Therefore, the title would come down to which team did better in their last season games.

Because SK lost to Prout and Mount Hope, the deciding game came between us and EG, on our senior night. This made senior night even more special, after we beat EG 3 to 0 and secured our spot as South Division 1 Champions; a title NK has not received in 20 years.

“Winning my last home game, helping the team win our division, and winning alongside my teammates that I have been playing with for so long made my senior night amazing,” said Sienna Mobley. “The juniors and underclassmen put a huge effort into the senior night, and I will miss playing with them so much.”

Despite the fact that the senior athletes will be entering a new chapter of their lives beyond high school, the memories and friendships they have made will last forever. Not only is senior night a time to honor the seniors, but it is also a time to remember all the long practices, nerve-racking games, and team bonding experiences that transpired over an athlete’s four years at NK.