Thomas Jefferson girls soccer lets first win slip away, leave level with Lions

Thomas Jefferson High School’s girls soccer team is still searching for their first win, and were a minute away from their first one on Sept. 8 against Auburn Mountainview, but left the game with a 1-1 draw.

“It’s a hard draw, I will say. Our girls dominated this game. I think this is the most cohesive I have seen us play. The communication and possession, the girls were on it today,” Head Coach Sydney Banyai said.

After their first game, it seemed bleak and more of the same for the Raiders. A 5-0 loss to Decatur opened up their 2025 campaign, but a bounce-back performance against Auburn Mountainview is a positive sign for the future.

“We took the weekend, and got right back into it. We had a good little talk on before we got on the bus. I felt like that helped us get recentered and focused. We wrote goals as well, team goals and individual goals. Having everyone have something they wanted to get out of this game helped us get recentered,” junior Callie Moore said.

Another positive sign for the future is the sheer amount of youth on the field for Thomas Jefferson. There are just five seniors on the roster. Meanwhile there are two starting freshmen, one of which scored the team’s first goal this season.

“I’m excited to watch other people, especially the younger players, come out of their shell and start helping communicate and lead on and off the field,” Moore said.

Malieta Redmond dribbles the ball for Thomas Jefferson. Photos by Ben Ray / The Mirror

For the first 70 minutes, Thomas Jefferson appeared to have the advantage, but hadn’t been rewarded with a goal they had been searching for. But finally after 153 minutes of game time this season, freshman Malieta Redmond put the first goal on the scoreboard in the 73rd minute.

It came from a great pass by Balkisa Mohammed to senior Jazmyne DuBose down the right side and she sent a perfect shot or cross that needed saving from Auburn Mountainview keeper Olivia Blavka. The ball went through Blavka’s hands and Redmond finished it off with a header for the game’s first goal.

“That ball from Jaz, one of the captains, was a beautiful ball and for her to follow it in was perfect. She had a lot of great shots tonight. To see her finish one was great,” Banyai said.

Redmond’s talent was on full display against the Lions. Her speed and technique threatened the Lions’ defense all night and Banyai had her bouncing around from the left side to the right side of the field.

For 80 minutes, the Raiders had held Auburn Mountainview off the scoreboard. A big part in that was junior center back Callie Moore, who is one of the more vocal players on the Raider side.

Claire Kaspersen takes the ball up the field for Thomas Jefferson. Photos by Ben Ray / The Mirror

“She takes on a huge leadership role for us. She does her part and makes sure everybody else does theirs. She is a really big team leader,” Banyai said.

The Raiders looked like they were in prime position to travel to Auburn Mountainview and steal three points and notch their first win of the season. It came down to a foul in the corner committed by Isabella Corrales, who wound up hurt as a result. But the free kick taken by Auburn Mountainview was headed home by another freshman, Sarah Yu.

The goal came in the waning moments of the game, and the clock had been stopped at 2:00. If the Raiders clear the ball, the game more than likely ends. But Yu leaped uncontested for the ball and headed it into the back of the net.

Last season, Banyai was hired during the season, but this year Banyai had a full offseason with her group to prepare them for the regular season.

“Having all the girls back and ready to go, giving their all out on the field is nice. It’s nice seeing them in the hallways, but there is nothing like having them out at practice everyday,” Banyai said.

Despite not taking home three points, there was a lot to like from the Raiders’ performance. According to Moore, their communication especially with the backline that has a freshman in the starting lineup was very much improved from the Decatur loss.

“I’m just glad we were able to compete for the full 80 minutes. I felt like we did a good job communicating. I felt like we were one whole backline,” Moore said.