Captains Olivia Forde and Leila Chiddister of Olympia’s Girls Soccer team always bring high energy and strong leadership, but most importantly genuine love for the game that pushes our Titans forward every single day. Olympia’s girls soccer season has officially started this winter and they are already off to a great start.
For both captains, their journeys into soccer began early. Forde started around the age of five and immediately fell in love with the fast pace of the game. Chiddister, introduced by her parents at the age of three, began taking the sport more seriously in middle school. “I started playing competitively and watching soccer all the time,” she shared.
For Forde, one moment that stands out as the highlight of her playing career was the match against East Ridge High School. “We won after two rounds of penalty kicks and were given the district champion trophy,” she said.
Leila’s favorite memory comes from the same game except hers includes a game-winning moment she’ll never forget. “My favorite memory was last season when we won districts against East Ridge and I scored the winning penalty kick,” Chiddister stated. She also beat the same team in her first regional game. According to the player, “it was all just a fun time and very rewarding.”
Through the long games and tough losses, both captains find their motivation in the same place: their teammates. “When we’re down a goal, I look around and see everyone working just as hard,” Forde recalled. Chiddister shared a similar sentiment: “My biggest motivation is my teammates, they always know how to get me going.” Both athletes have worked hard to improve their skills. Forde has focused on improving her non-dominant foot to stay unpredictable, while Leila has dedicated time to strengthening her mentality, something she calls “the most complex part of the game.”
Balancing school and soccer hasn’t always been easy, but both captains have created routines that keep them grounded. Forde uses strict time management, often starting homework right after practice. On the other hand, Chiddister stays organized by keeping everything written out in a planner. “It helps me stay organized with practices and schoolwork,” she stated. Being a leader comes with pressure, but at the end of the day captains are humans too. When asked what advice they would give Ford said “Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, confidence and learning from errors are much more important than being perfect.”
As a senior, Chiddister encourages newcomers to embrace the full experience.“Work hard and have fun, you’ll get to meet new people, make memories, and enjoy the game” she exclaimed. Looking toward the future, both captains hope to leave a lasting impact on the program. “I want them to always remember my captaincy and take my advice into their future experiences,” Forde stated. Chiddister’s goal is to keep doing what she loves most, “I just want to keep improving and playing the game for as long as I can.” These two are a perfect example of captains who love their teammates and want to make this last season, their best season.
