Although the last game of the season ended in a loss, the Jaguars' season was marked with wonderful achievements. The Jaguars, a travel soccer team of 9-year-old girls, began practicing in August twice a week and playing league games on Saturday, as well as in holiday tournaments. While the team record is comprised more of losses than wins, the Jaguars were not discouraged and only pushed themselves harder to do better.

The team competed in every game, and overall created memorable times playing and practicing together this fall. The valuable lessons about teamwork and hard work not only will help the players to improve in soccer, individually and as a team, but more importantly these lessons will also be with them for the rest of their lives. Their spirit of enthusiasm for the game of soccer and for each other is top notch, and it is only a matter of time before the Jaguars bring home the state cup to Great Neck. With or without the cup, they are winners, because they are dedicated to doing great in soccer and in life and to never giving up. Like the saying goes, it's how you play the game, and the Jaguars play the game with hearts of champions.

The Great Neck Jaguars are led by manager Michael Lamoretti and trained by Leigh Pilkington. Other parent managers are Beth Bergman, Rob Raphael and this author. On behalf of the Great Neck Jaguars, I would like to thank soccer league president Kerry Baron and her dedicated officers for all that they do, and continue to do, in organizing the club and the teams.