Pedro Costa attacks his final soccer season
For senior Pedro Costa, the sport of soccer has always been a pillar of his everyday life. From the moment he could walk, he was introduced to the game. What began as a simple way to stay active became a lifestyle that honed competition, relationships and an abundance of memories.
The experience of a four-year soccer journey in high school was never supposed to be easy, and Costa faced challenges early on that left him questioning his commitment to the sport.
“There were definitely moments where I doubted myself and thought about quitting,” Costa said. “Especially when I wasn’t getting as much playing time in games as I would have liked.” Costa felt that it was a pivotal point where he had to figure out his motivation.
“I just kept relying on my teammates,” Costa said , “Finding and fine tuning my skills and just kept showing up at practice everyday,”
As a center midfielder, Costa plays one of the most demanding positions on the field. Being responsible for major contributions in both offensive and defensive play, strong communication and vision are needed for him to contribute to the success of his team.
“I tried to do the little things right on the field, even though I may not be the flashiest,” Costa said. He prides himself on being a good teammate, one who will uplift the team during the bad times, alongside his on-field play.
Throughout his high school career, the sport has created many memories that stand out for him. One close in his mind is of a match against Thousand Oaks, where the team blew a 3-0 lead, causing the game to be tied in the final minutes. This changed when one of Pedro’s teammates scored the winning goal with around 30 seconds left, leading to an unforgettable celebration of the win.
“I remember everyone running to the corner, including the bench, getting up and jumping around at that corner, yelling at each other, and just going crazy, really,” Costa said.
Now, as a senior, Costa recently played his final match. He reflects on his high school career as something bittersweet. He is grateful for the teammates he has bonded with over the years, and finishing his journey with the same ones that have been with him through it.
“I would definitely say it’s a bittersweet feeling,” Costa said.”I’m not necessarily sad that it’s over, but I’m glad that I was able to be a part of it.”
