The Lady Bobcats are back at it again with an amazing soccer season. With two teams this year, the ladies have shown incredible growth and success. Both teams display extreme perseverance while playing in crazy Chicago weather.

Motivation is key to our BOYCP girls, with coaches pushing them to be their best and continue winning games. Head coach, Mr. Rook told The Maroon, “The girls are motivated by each other and their desire to win soccer matches. The leaders of our team have instilled a great attitude that challenges the girls to work hard for one another.” With already one conference win the Lady Bobcats are confident they will win another conference title.

Girls’ soccer is not only successful at BOYCP, but also in the United States. The U.S. women’s team won their third title in the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Even with high popularity girls’ soccer is usually discriminated. When asked if she believed that girls’ soccer is underestimated, Estela Leon responded, “Yeah, they are. Usually social media and TV just show men playing soccer, you don’t see a lot of famous TV networks broadcasting a women’s soccer game.” Clearly, the vision of girls being fully capable of achieving high rankings in sports is blurred by social media and the belief in male domination.

Recently, five players of the U.S.women’s soccer team filed a wage-discrimination action against the U.S. Soccer Federation with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The members of the U.S. team state they produce more revenue and work equally as the men but continue to receive lower pay. They have gained many supporters in their fight for wage equality from the U.S. men’s team and even presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. These women are fighting for the future and for our girls at BOYCP.

– Marlen Gongora and Jackie Almaraz