HOPE CHRISTIAN GIRLS SOCCER WIN STREAK CONTINUES

Hope Christian is the two-time defending state champ in Class 4A girls soccer with pressure to three-peat.  “We don’t really talk about it, but yes, I think in the back of everyone’s mind it’s there,” head coach Amy Fankam said.  “You don’t want to be the one that let’s everyone down that, ‘Wow, we started this really cool thing and we’re not coming through with it,’.  So, I think there’s some of it there, but at the end of the day each team they kind of forge their own path and I hope the girls realize that every day they take it a practice at a time and a game at a time.”

Hope lost three seniors from last year’s group, but they have six seniors on this roster, including Savanah Sanchez who has a knack for finding the goal. “She’s phenomenal, one of the best I’ve ever coached,” said Fankam. “As good as she is as a player, she’s an even better human being and teammate.  She loves the team atmosphere more than any other player I’ve coached.”

Heading into her final year, Sanchez racked up 124 goals in her varsity career.  She’s also one to lend a helping hand with 23 assists last season and 24 her sophomore season. “She’s selfless, and you wouldn’t think that with a kid who scored that many goals last year,” said Fankam.  “She always wants to get other people involved in the play.  She’ll come out and say, ‘We have to get so-and-so a goal’. She’s selfless, hardworking, and passionate.”

“I’ve worked a lot more on my fitness because it’s a big part of the game,” said Sanchez.  “I’ve worked a lot on finishing the ball, placing it a little better.  Obviously, looking for those passes to help the other teammates score.”

This year’s group has seven freshmen, and six eighth graders.  Sanchez sees her role as a mentor.  “I just want to push them and show them that it’s ok to make mistakes and we all need to have confidence and make sure they have fun playing the game because that’s the most important part,” Sanchez said.

Hope hasn’t lost in their last 33 matches, but coach doesn’t talk about the streak. “Nope, we don’t,” said Fankam.  “They know it.  I think it’s kind of the elephant in the room that no one brings up.  I don’t know that there’s any reason to.  They clearly know it, there’s no way they don’t.  We just prefer to go day-by-day.”

“I think about it and I know the people returning from last year think about it,” said Sanchez.  “It’s not that we don’t talk about it, it’s just more like let’s continue this, let’s all work work, let’s push each other to do better and just be the best we can.  Obviously, yes, we could lose a game, but at the end of the day it’s did we give our best effort.”