The final whistle had just blown and the Lady Bulldogs walked off the field after completing their first round playoff game against South Side High. The Roslyn supporters and players hugged, kissed and congratulated one another for a job well done. An unmistakable feeling of joy and accomplishment was in the air. You would have thought they had won 7-0. The opposite was true however. They had just been dealt a 7-0 defeat at the hands of the 7-time state champions. But how could everyone be so happy after such a big loss?

The reason for such joy lay in the fact that Roslyn has just completed a season in which they won their conference for the first time ever, posting an 11-1 record. They were not supposed to have posted such an impressive record, they were not supposed to have won their conference outright and they were not supposed to defeat the perennial powerhouse South Side High. Hey, in this case, two out of three is great!

The reason for their landmark season lies in the fact that they were led by a wonderful cast of upperclassmen. Four senior captains led the way: All-Conference recipient Amy Birnbaum, playing her fifth season for team, constantly led the team with creative and skillful play from her center midfield position. Game after game she displayed talent that most players would love to possess themselves.

Most games, Amy's left flank was filled with senior midfielder Courtney Wunderlich. In the formation that Roslyn employed this season, Courtney's wide midfield position required the most running of all the positions. It is a credit to Courtney that she did such an admirable job at such a demanding position.

A true stalwart of this season's team was Angelique Hermanowski. Every successful team needs someone who possesses her drive, dedication and all out hustle. For much of the season she sacrificed her own person. She embodies the true spirit of what a student-athlete should be all about. The Roslyn community should be proud to have her representing it.

The most improved player on the team was sophomore goalkeeper, Rebecca Sahn. Combining hard work with a positive attitude, Rebecca got better and better as the season went on. She posted five shutouts this season and held the opposition to one goal on four other occasions. In the second to last game of the year, Rebecca made a lunging save with less than 30 seconds left to preserve the victory and this team's place in Roslyn history.

This year's soccer team was an incredible success and all the players deserve a round of applause.