SAUGUS — There was some tension in the air when the season started for Hart’s girls soccer team. The program had won the Foothill League title, CIF Southern Section Division 2 title and CIF State SoCal Division II Regional title all in the same season.
“To win everything last year, there’s a lot of pressure to win this year without anyone saying,” Hart head coach Brett Croft said.
Hart has relied on its standard of success and leadership of returners, including Ari Salvador, throughout this season. One milestone was already repeated Tuesday when Hart clinched the league league title with a 2-0 win over Saugus.
The win over the Centurions, who sit in second place, was especially gratifying considering the two teams played to a 0-0 draw in their first league contest earlier this season.
“We wanted to show that we’re dominant in league and that we can win the important games,” Hart junior Brooklyn Fuller, who scored at the 12-minute mark. “Sometimes we have off days and sometimes we have on days, but the difference between Hart soccer and other schools is we still find a way to win.”
Salvador scored the second goal on a penalty kick 15 minutes into the second half.
She has been a guiding force for Hart this season on and off the field.
“She’s always even-keeled and made the new players feel welcome,” Croft said. “She did a lot of work in getting the new players to feel comfortable with us and not like, oh my gosh, Hart just won everything and now I have to try and go out there and do that too.”
Salvador and her sister Adrielle both have experience playing for the Philippines national team and comprise half of the midfield alongside Kylie O’Donnell and Natalie Mejia. The midfield is the only position group that returns all players from last season.
Croft said that Hart established its midfield early on and built the team out from there, moving to the back line and then the offense.
“Even though we lost our back line, our starting goalie and our two forwards, the new players that came in are doing great,” Salvador said. “They’re adjusting really well, uplifting the team and I feel like they’re playing their part.”
A forceful opposing wind created a difficult first half for Hart, which had to move from taking powerful shots as it usually does to playing on the ground. Hart doesn’t shy away from challenges, whether it’s the wind or moving up a division.
Hart is now in Division 1 and has been on the watch list for the Open Division, which is a new level for boys and girls soccer this season. After winning nine Foothill League titles in the last 10 years, Hart welcomes the next level.
“Playing for Hart for four years, having the name and the legacy of continuing to win, builds confidence in players,” Salvador said. “As we keep playing and developing, playing different ways and playing to our potential, that confidence keeps rising.”