VARy Goal-Oriented

Introducing Mia and Gigi, the captains leading the Mimbas to the top!

Reading Time: 4 minutes

By Frederik Schutz, Yashna Patel

Issue 2, Volume 114

By Ava Quarles

Name: Mia Haas

Grade: 12

Height: 5’ 4”

Hair Color: Brown

Eye Color: Brown

Date of Birth: January 20, 2006

Name: Gigi Bryce

Grade: 12

Height: 5’ 5”

Hair Color: Brown

Eye Color: Brown

Date of Birth: August 14, 2006

When and how did you start playing soccer?

Mia: I started playing soccer when I was about three or four. I was playing in a little recreational league and Super Soccer Stars. I play because my dad played when he was in high school, so he made my sister and I play.

Gigi: My story is the same, except it’s Williamsburg-themed. I’ve been involved in soccer basically ever since I could walk. I was in the Greenpoint Williamsburg Youth Soccer League and then I played club when I was six or seven. I’ve been involved in soccer ever since.

What positions do you play, and what skills/strengths are involved?

Mia: I play center back, but I can play as right-back or outside-back. I think the main strengths required are in communication; you need to be fast and also calm and collected while handling the plays because it’s important that you don’t mess up. Any mistake you make at center-back is more often than not going to lead to a goal.

Gigi: I play left-wing, or full-back, or wing-back, because we do a 3-5-2 formation. You have to be fast, be able to run a lot, put in good crosses, be responsible defensively, cut in defensively, and work with the midfield. It’s a difficult position, especially in today’s modern game; the wing-backs have to be just as good offensively as they are defensively, because they are constantly pushing forward to support the attack.

What is your most memorable moment with the Mimbas?

Mia: I think back to the Beacon game in our sophomore year. We won, we scored. They’re a tough team, one that the Mimbas hadn’t beaten in a while. The crowd was making up chants for us. I really remember the crowd cheering on Shivali, it was great.

Gigi: I agree with Mia. That win against Beacon at Riverside (park) was so special. Our play was good, the atmosphere was great and we of course ended up winning. I especially remember this one girl who was really, really good on Beacon. She was on the right wing, and I had to be against her every time, and I was just a sophomore so it was really hard. But I did my best and we ended up winning.

Do you have any plans to continue playing soccer in the future or in college?

Mia: I think I’ll just involve myself in intramurals, recreational leagues, or pickup. But I definitely won’t even be doing D3 soccer. That’s a lot of work, something I’m not wanting to commit to.

Gigi: I also won’t be playing for my college. But I definitely want to stay involved in soccer; I love the sport, so I plan on doing club soccer or intramural in college as well. But whenever I’m back in the city, I will definitely get together with friends to play some soccer.

Do you have any pregame superstitions or rituals?

Mia: Not really, I don’t really feel like I do anything that's special.

Gigi: I don’t have any personal superstitions. Except for the team chant, we all put our hands in the middle, and then put our left hand close to our heart, and then do the “Stuy on three!” chant. That is a superstition, I guess.

What is your jersey number, and what made you decide that number? Mia: My number is 20 because 17 was taken when I joined as a sophomore. I wasn't really happy with that, but I took 20.

Gigi: Eight is my lucky number, but it was taken by a senior who barely came to games. My sister who was on the team reserved 13 for me, and I was also 13 on my club team. Alex Morgan also has the number 13, but I’d probably rather have the numbers 8, 11, or 6.

What is the best part about soccer?

Mia: The best part about soccer is that it is a team sport––you’re working with each other. I also prefer it over other sports because of the various actions involved, especially because of the different positions there are.

Gigi: Soccer is a beautifully fluid sport, and I’m very emotionally attached to it. It’s a sport where the team really bonds. Unlike other sports, in soccer, the play is always moving, and you get attached to the 11 players on the field.