Diya D’Souza
Questions- Samantha Gonzales

Q: When did you start playing soccer?

A: I started playing soccer when I was four years old.

Q: What do you like about soccer?

A: I like soccer because it’s a team sport where everyone has an important role to play, and it requires technical skill, speed and physicality all together.

Q: What position do you play?

A: I mostly play left defense.

Q: What are your predictions for the season?

A: The team is already looking really good this year, and I’m excited to win some games. Hopefully, we will do well in the playoffs and make it at least past the first round as well.

Q: What is your favorite thing about playing left defender?

A: I like being an outside defender because stuff like stopping attacks and blocking crosses is really satisfying, but I also get to go up and help the midfield a lot.

Q: Do you only play soccer at LASA or are you also part of a club team?

A: I played for a club team, Lonestar, most of my life, but the past few years I’ve only played for LBJ.

Q: Do you see yourself continuing to play in college?

A: I will probably continue to play soccer in college but just for the intramural team.

Q: What is your favorite part of soccer at LBJ?

A: My favorite part of soccer at LBJ is that I’ve become friends with so many people I probably wouldn’t know otherwise. Everyone works hard and wants to get better, but having a good time and bonding as a team is just as important to us.

Q: What other sports/activities do you participate in and what do you like about them?

A: I don’t play any other sport, but I like to exercise a lot outside of soccer. I really like running because it’s nice to just be outside listening to music while getting in work, and it helps to stay in shape for soccer.

Q: How do you balance playing a varsity sport and a LASA schedule?

A: Balancing LASA and varsity soccer can be difficult, especially because it takes so long to get home after practices, but I try to do as much homework as I can during the school day or in the locker room before games.

Q: What level of commitment do you have for soccer? Are you a captain?

A: Soccer has been my passion for my entire life, so now that I no longer play club, I’m very invested in LBJ soccer. We haven’t elected captains this season yet, but, as a senior, I try my best to lead the team.

Q: What do you see as the team’s toughest challenge this season and how do you guys plan to face it?

A: Our toughest games this season are definitely McCallum and Dripping Springs. I think as long as we stay really aggressive, keep good positioning and communicate as a team, we have a good chance.

Q: What is the biggest difference between this year’s team and last year’s?

A: We only lost a few seniors from last year, so the team itself is pretty solid and works well together. Our coach left though, so Cardinale moved up to coach varsity, which is a big change.

Q: What does “team” mean for you in soccer?

A: To me, “team” in soccer means that every individual should be working hard for the good of the team but also helping each other. You can’t succeed in soccer if you don’t trust your teammates or communicate with them.