What’s a Soccer Player’s Favorite Tea? Penal Tea.

After weeks of practice in the scorching sun, the Mimbas, Stuyvesant’s girls’ varsity soccer team, has kicked off their season. Led by the talented and spunky center mid, captain Allie Lennard, the team is looking to make their mark on the pitch by emphasizing communication and teamwork. Last year, the Mimbas were 5-5 but made it to the second round of playoffs. Lennard held the team together (literally, as center mid) and contributed some amazing assists and one goal. This year, she’s here to tell us how she wants the team to improve and how she began her soccer career.

Name: Alexandra Lennard

DOB: March 9, 2001

Eye color: Green

Hair color: Brown

Grade: Senior

Height: 5’8”

1. How did you get into soccer?

My mom also played it in high school and taught me how to play soon after I began to walk.

2. Do you/did you play soccer outside of school?

Yes. I have played for outside teams since I was really little and started playing club soccer when I was in fourth grade. Up until sophomore year, I played competitively outside of school with SABA (Soccer at its Best Academy). I quit during sophomore year because it was too much to juggle between school work, the Mimbas, and other extracurriculars.

3. What are your aspirations for this PSAL season?

Senior Allison Eng, the other captain of the Mimbas, and I are doing our best to help the team reach their full potential. Right now, because we have a bunch of new players, we are working to make our team one cohesive unit through emphasizing communication and teamwork on the field. A truly cohesive team is one whose players motivate and support one another, making the teammates more desirous of doing well. Through this, along with enhancing specific skills during practices, Allison and I hope to see tremendous improvement throughout the season.

4. Is the team facing any challenges so far in the season?

Yeah—three of our starters have gotten injured, all during or before the first game. Our goalie is concussed, so she couldn’t play in our last game. Two other starters have leg injuries, and one of them may be out for the entire season. Luckily, we have a lot of capable players and have been able to switch up the starting lineup a bit.

5. What’s the funniest thing that has happened while you’ve been on the team?

Probably forgetting that I need a medical and parental like every preseason (whoops)!

6. Proudest moment?

I am in no way taking credit for this, but I absolutely loved seeing the freshmen KILL it on the field during our first game. I felt like a proud mom. Fun fact: Allison calls me AllieMom and she is AllieSon! Though we lost, it was so exciting seeing our talented freshmen bringing so much to our team and officially becoming a part of the Mimbas. It made me feel nostalgic for when I was a freshman, and it’s crazy to think that in a couple years they’ll be where I am. But knowing that we have incredible freshmen who will take the reins and keep the Mimbas strong when Allison and I leave is awesome.

7. How do you balance schoolwork and being on a team? What advice can you give others?

It’s definitely difficult, but sometimes, knowing you don’t have a lot of time forces you to crack down and be productive. I also make use of every ounce of time, such as subway and bus rides to and from games. If I know I’m going to have a particularly busy/stressful night, I make a to-do list/schedule. Through this, I allocate a specific amount of time to each subject or assignment, forcing myself to stay on track. I even include things like “shower” or “wash soccer uniform” just so I can cross them off once I complete them and feel productive.

8. How do you try to constantly improve yourself?

On and off the field, I try to improve myself by setting mini goals. For example, if I want to improve my footwork on the field, my goal might be to learn a specific trick, and I’ll focus on that during practice. When I’ve used that move in a game, I’ll know I accomplished that goal.

Drink: Qater

Food: MANGOS!

Motto: YOLO (but for real because I’m really impulsive)

Fun fact: I’m a ski instructor in the winter.

Piercings: Nine