In a perfect bookend, the 2020-21 South San Francisco High School (SSFHS) girls' varsity soccer team claimed the school's first-ever Central Coast Section (CCS) championship on May 29, 20201, winning 1-0 in overtime against Monterey High.
The victory comes one year after the 2019-20 team reached the finals for the first time.
Along the way, they overcame uncertainty caused by an entire school year spent in distance learning and a lingering sense of loss and isolation cast over the past 14 months by COVID-19.
Shortly after the last year's title match, South San Francisco Unified School District (SSFUSD) canceled all in-person classes starting March 16, 2020 to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The class of 2021's CCS championship run happened in a year when the district's middle and high school students remained in distance learning the whole year, barely setting foot on campus until the commencement of their graduation ceremonies.
"Once the ref blew the [final] whistle. . .all of us were screaming, and some of us were crying." said SSFHS senior Fatima Waldo Garcia. "I was just kind of overwhelmed. I actually really couldn’t believe it...because I got so close the last three years with the prior teams, and I know I just really wanted to end my senior season like this."
Fatima, who plays forward, was named 2021 player of the year by MaxPreps.
"I wanted to play and be there for the team and motivate them to do great, because I just know that they’re all capable of being great," she said.
Fairy tales like this are the result of determination. Congratulations to Coach Mansell and the 2020-21 SSFHS Warriors girls' soccer team for an inspiring season.
