After watching the Rockville boys varsity team come from behind to beat the Rockets 2-1, the girls varsity team were definitely feeling the pressure to end their game as winners. Junior Bryony Hollingsworth explains this anxiety, saying “Leading up to this game I was really, really nervous because obviously Rockville is our rival and I wanted more than anything to win.” The girls did take home the win as they triumphed 3-1 in this exciting game.

Despite the team’s collective nerves, they still managed to stay focused and determined. “I just think that this game was the first time everybody really connected and everybody gave 100% to the game. We came in with a really good attitude and that helped us more than ever,” senior Brittany Royes-Fletcher explained. The Rockets came out strong, but a little panicked. However, the team soon found its rhythm, passing circles around Rockville’s defense.

“I thought the team looked pretty sharp with our passing and we created a lot of good opportunities,” senior Vanessa Martinez Penn described. Despite their excellent movement with the ball, the team struggled in getting the ball to the goal until about 20 minutes in. A perfectly timed through-ball by Royes-Fletcher connected with freshman Delaney Goetz, who easily nailed the ball into the back of the net.

The team kept their lead until the end of the first half, when one of Rockville’s total three shots slipped past the defense and into the goal. RM came out even harder the second half, with Royes-Fletcher scoring in the first four minutes. The crowd went wild, pumping up the team, prompting another goal about ten minutes later, again by Royes-Fletcher.

The Rockets kept fighting hard, keeping their 3-1 lead until the end of the game, emerging victorious just as they had planned. “While it would have been nice to score more goals,” Martinez Penn admitted, “the ones that we did get were amazing, and I’m proud of the team for all of their hard work, and of course, for beating our rival school!”

Despite the fact that it was an away game, tons of RM supporters showed up in the stands, with cheering that rivaled that of Rockville’s spirit section. The passionate crowd really helped the team step up their game and stay hungry the entire 80 minutes of play. “Tonight was honestly amazing…with support from both family and friends I believe we played with so much heart, and you could really tell this game meant so much to us,” Hollingsworth said. “Every part of the game tonight made me proud to be a Rocket and I couldn’t think of a more perfect way to spend a Friday night than to beat Rockville. Especially at their house.”