"The Beast"

Mariana was ready to give up soccer; she was lacking confidence and really didn't connect with any of the girls on her team. It wasn't the girls' fault; many of them go to school together. Also, it was a highly competitive team, and for most of the girls, soccer is their passion and their sport.

Mariana has other interests: running, dancing, playing basketball. I was disappointed to learn that last spring, she decided not to play soccer with that team; however, her mother found her another team that isn't as competitive, and several of the girls on the team go to a local Lutheran school that Mariana knows from playing basketball with them or against them. At first, she didn't like it because it takes her a while to warm up to people, but she has made friends now and has learned to love the game again.

Because of playing with the competitive team last year, Mariana's footwork and technique have paid off, and she's one of the more aggressive players on her current team. As a matter of fact, I was watching her play on Saturday and after the game, one of the player's mothers rushed up to Mariana and called her "a beast." And she's right...Mariana is a beast on the field. She's an excellent defender, knows where to be, and has found success thus raising her confidence. It was such a joy to watch her, so I decided to make her soccer photos my heading. Hope you enjoy.