Lady Devils Soccer Sets Sights on Playoffs After Historic Regular Season
Burlington's girls' soccer team is having a standout season, finishing the regular season with more than double the wins they notched last year.
Last season, Burlington High School’s Girls’ Soccer team took home four wins and eight losses, landing them in ninth place overall in the Middlesex league. This Fall they’ve flipped the script, doubling their wins and slowly climbing up the rankings, with the help of strong coaching and talented players making their mark on and off the field.
Daniela DeSousa coached Junior Varsity soccer at BHS from 2012 to 2019 and took on the role of Varsity coach in 2022. Since starting, the goal of bringing home a banner for Burlington Girls’ Soccer in the Middlesex League – a feat that’s never been done before – has stayed at the top of her list of priorities.
DeSousa said she began coaching many of her players when they were only in the fifth grade, which made this year feel like her senior season, too. She said this familiarity only brought a stronger bond to the team, as everyone was on the same page, speaking the same language, and locking in on the journey together.
Fluidity and decision making are two key components to playing soccer, DeSousa said, and the team honed in on these skills from last season to now, leading to growth on the individual and team level.
“It’s so cool how creative they are on the ball because they know that, ‘Hey, if I make a mistake…’” said DeSousa, “‘I’m going to try to get it back, or I know my friend's going to have my back’ and there's not that added pressure or stress of someone getting mad at you or screaming at you or being mean to you. They're just all there for each other and it’s unbelievable.”
DeSousa grew up “bleed[ing] black and orange” in Woburn. Her team at Woburn High qualified for the state tournament in 2004 after a win over Watertown, and the bus ride home was a moment she’ll never forget. Being able to share the excitement and pride with her teammates was a feeling she wanted to emulate in Burlington.
“I wanted to be proud of the soccer that we played,” DeSousa said. “I want people to have those memories of the good times … to be proud of what you're putting on the field, to have pride in Burlington, and for that B that's on your shirt to mean something to you.”
In the last few seasons there has been a competitive shift, DeSousa said. Before, BHS Girls’ Varsity Soccer used to be the team that other schools picked for their senior night, knowing they could win. But now it’s clear that Burlington is no longer a “walkover game,” as people have been paying close attention to their film and stats and seeing their talent in person during competition.
“It’s been really cool to watch the girls play quality soccer,” DeSousa said. “They’re moving the ball around, they’re making the ball do the work, and they’re making decisions for themselves, for each other, and we’re not reverting to the old style of kick and run.”
Alongside the team’s growth and their commitment to getting better each and every game, DeSousa said being able to see her players become an inspiration for younger athletes in the Burlington community has been one of her happiest moments. Many of the younger kids have already started to ask if any of the current players might be their coaches in the coming future.
Ending their regular season strong with a 10-6-2 record for the 25-26 season, BHS Lady Devils Soccer now sets their sights on state tournament playoffs, which will commence with an away game against King Philip Regional High School in Wrentham on Tuesday, November 4.
