Watching her siblings’ soccer games in her childhood contributed to Sophia Lis ‘22’s growing interest to play on the field and prompted her to continue her soccer career in high school. Lis’s talent, consistency, and knowledge of the game lead to her skillful performance on the field: Lis quickly moved up to the varsity team in her freshman year and is now captain of the girls varsity soccer team. Head Coach David Kosa, who has been coaching the Princeton High School girls soccer team over the four years of Lis’s engagement, commented on Lis’s ability and growth.

“She’s very intelligent out on the field [and] unselfish, too,”

“Her improvement throughout the years has been very noticeable. Her skill level is at such a high point right now,” said Kosa.

Lis is consistently a top scorer for both her Princeton High School and club teams. She is committed to play Division I soccer for Lehigh University starting next fall.

After an injury her sophomore year and a long rehabilitation process, Lis was uncertain of her career in soccer. However, she recognized her desire to continue her soccer career and was inspired by others that recovered from ACL injuries. With perseverance, Lis has not only resumed her role playing on the PHS soccer team but also on the Players Development Academy (PDA), where she trains with athletes from different schools in a competitive environment.

“Just observing my teammates and the people around me, I learnt a lot about myself that year and made me realize I wanted to continue playing soccer and reach my goals of playing my junior year,” Lis said.

“PDA has taught me how to persevere and handle the pressure of the coach always watching or wanting to perform at the top level.”

Although she was in the rehabilitation process during her sophomore year, Lis was dedicated to improving her soccer skills and learning from her coaches and peers. As she took on a leadership role as an upperclassman, Lis consistently challenged herself to be more assertive on the field.

“Freshman year, she was very timid, even though she was the best forward and the top scorer she didn’t really talk that much. And now watching her as a captain, facilitating all the drills and incorporating the underclassmen she’s grown so much as a person and a player,” co-captain Megan Rougas ’22 said.

Lis is not only a hardworking athlete who always seeks to improve herself, but she has also shown strong abilities in leading and helping her teammates. As one of the captains of the PHS girls soccer team this year, Lis has become more of a team player, giving her teammates more scoring opportunities.

“For captains, it is always important to discuss with your team and ensure everyone is included and knows the value they bring to the team,” Lis said.

As an athlete who has gained many experiences from games and leadership, Lis gave some advice to the incoming and current underclassman athletes on the PHS soccer team.

“When there are any obstacles in the road, there is always a way around it,” Lis said. “You just have to keep pushing through and working hard to better yourself and the people around you.“