Juniors develop friendship through soccer and field hockey

When juniors Rachel Leonard and Amanda Schwartz met through a mutual friend while playing in American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) when they were only 7, they never thought they would one day end up becoming as close as they are now.

“We were never on the same team because she was always on the same team as [junior] Hannah Johnson, so we weren’t super close, but we knew who each other were,” Schwartz said.

According to Schwartz, she and Leonard grew close as they moved up to California Youth Soccer Association (CYSA), a more competitive soccer league.

“We became close when we first joined our first CYSA team, De Anza Force White. Her dad coached in the beginning. We called it the dream team,” Schwartz said.

During their freshman year, Leonard and Schwartz juggled school field hockey and club soccer during the fall season. The girls also participated in school soccer.

“Freshman year we did field hockey and club soccer at the same time, so we would go to half of field hockey, sprint to the car, change in the car, and run to soccer and it was just very memorable because it was so stressful and we ended up spending a lot of time together,” Schwartz said.

Teammate senior Anna Ashe has noticed the close bond that Leonard and Schwartz share. Because Ashe also plays field hockey and soccer, she sees the two frequently.

“Rachel and Amanda are one of a kind,” Ashe said. “They are awesome teammates, in both soccer and field hockey. They’re a lot of fun to have around.”

According to Schwartz, she and Leonard always have fun together.

“A favorite moment, well there are a lot, they are called Rachel moments and sometimes she just asks not-so-bright questions,” Schwartz joked. “Like recently she asked me during school soccer practice, ‘Amanda, do astronauts have to wait until it is a full moon to land?’”