A night in the rain shows women’s soccer’s resilience
- Izabela Gage
- Apr 18
- 5 min read
By Izabela Gage
Sports Editor
Gray clouds loomed over Maple Street Field at 8 p.m. on a Monday night in April, draping the turf in a chilly, silvery haze. Droplets of rain fell to the ground, soaking cleats and layers of athletic gear.
The temperature hovered around 30 degrees, an unwelcome factor for any outdoor activity.
Yet, laughter from members of the women’s soccer team rang out through the locker room over the Macklemore songs coming from the JBL speaker as they laced up for another practice.
Despite the weather’s best efforts to discourage any activity, the players’ energy was still palpable.
The cold was no problem - the Framingham State women’s soccer team doesn’t take a timeout for poor conditions.
These athletes train through it all - sun, sleet, or rain.
And in doing so, bonds are formed not only on game days but in these unforgiving moments of numb fingers and toes and tense, cold muscles.
Freshman Bella Grimaldi said playing in the rain is “like playing soccer in a water park.”
The team split into two lines and started with calisthenics to warm their bodies for the two-hour practice.
From there, they grabbed a soccer ball for each line and started two-touch passing drills. After 7 minutes, they transitioned into fast, one-touch drills.
Laughter followed each step and every pass. Jokes came easily, and so did their enthusiasm. Frustration was left behind.
Junior Cathryn Cooney, one of the incoming captains for the 2025-26 season, said, “I think playing in the rain helps us work on our resilience and first touch. It gets slippery, but we know not to give up and help encourage each other and keep up the positive energy. It’s contagious!”
On the edge of the field, freshman goalkeeper Savannah Goba stretched and warmed up on her own, an injury keeping her sidelined from full-speed play.
Despite her recovery journey, Goba’s spirit remains unbroken. As the rest of the team ran agility drills across the wet turf, she set up cones for two-touch soccer drills.
Socks were soaked from the constant misting. Arms were draped over shoulders during water breaks. Extra jackets were being handed to any teammate who wanted another layer of warmth.
The tough practice became a rhythm - not punishment and not endurance for endurance’s sake.
On this field, perseverance and presence counted more than speed or strength. Whether benched by injury or leading a drill, every player contributed to the collective energy.
Cooney said playing in the rain or other unusual conditions is more memorable than playing in perfect circumstances. “There are some games I will never forget because of the weather and being so cold. … It bonds us all and makes us closer because we know we’re all in it together. The same conditions help with our resilience and grit.”
This sentiment was shared by every player, despite their soaked shirts and pairs of sweatpants.
Grimaldi said, “Playing in bad weather is a bonding experience … because it’s something we have to work together to overcome. It makes practice more fun.”
The conditions were not ideal, but each player showed up anyway, knowing every teammate would do the same.
Sophomore Melissa Romeiro said, “The rainy practices are honestly the ones that stand out the most. You don’t always remember the calm, sunny days, but you remember being completely soaked, freezing, and still giving it everything. It’s those tougher moments that bring us closer and remind us how much we care about the game and each other.”
Junior Grayson Tellier, the other incoming captain for the 2025-26 season, said, “Practicing in unfavorable conditions is a struggle, but it doesn’t feel that way with our team at all. We are all such a close-knit team, more than we have been in my past years here, and it makes everything more fun.
“We have an amazing coaching staff that is always pushing us to be our best, and we all lift each other up as well,” she added.
Freshman Aubrey Waterman said practicing in bad weather is not fun, but “I love that my teammates and I are still able to laugh and joke around. That is what makes it worth it.”
Romeiro said, “We’re all out there getting soaked and slipping around, but instead of being annoyed, we usually end up laughing and making the most of it. It’s one of those things that turns into a shared memory and brings a lot of good energy to the team.”
As practice drew to a close, the team huddled together, and their circle was close and loud with chatter.
Head Coach Michael La Francesca’s voice cut through the cold. “Play for the little kid you used to be when you started playing.”
Cooney said, “Coach is our biggest motivation 100%. It trickles down to all of us and helps us motivate each other.”
La Francesca said, “It's all about a coach's personality. So, I'm very outgoing and sometimes a little vocal in a positive way.
“I don't expect them to do something that I wouldn't do. Sometimes, we do push-ups, and I'll do them with them,” he added.
Water bottles were packed up, and cleats sloshed across soaked turf. No complaints, just talk about what they were planning on doing after practice. The team walked back to the locker room together with their gear slung over their shoulders, still grinning. Tellier said it can sometimes be hard to find the motivation to play in unfavorable weather conditions. “For the most part, it’s all about mindset. If you go into a practice with bad weather and a bad attitude, it’s going to stick for those two hours. … It’s a privilege to be on a team, raining or not, and you just have to make the most of it.” Romeiro said practice feels more meaningful when they get through the tough weather. “It pushes me to focus more and work harder, and by the end of it, I feel proud of myself and my team.” Waterman said, “My motivation comes from my teammates. I am always looking forward to seeing them at practice.” Only their teammates would share the soreness that followed the next day. More importantly, however, was the shared silent understanding that developed during each stormy practice. Adversity didn’t isolate anyone here - it unified them. On days like this, victory wasn’t measured in goals or statistics. Success came in the form of resilience and laughter reverberating across the field. Tellier said, “I think our practices in the rain are always more fun. At first, we are a little annoyed with it, but as the practice goes on, we get used to the conditions. We make the most of it and don’t let the weather bring our moods down. “It helps us figure out how to work better together and fix little mistakes, and we all help each other out,” she added. Waterman said, “It is important to understand how to play in wet and slippery conditions. You have to be more mindful of how you play the ball to your teammates. In the rain, the play is a lot faster, so being conditioned enough is also important.” Cooney said the team brings energy to every practice regardless of the weather. “It’s like a big dance party, and we are all just so happy to be together. It takes our mind off the bad weather.” No scoreboard can capture that - but maybe that’s exactly what makes it matter more. Tellier said, “Whether we are accidentally slipping everywhere or making funny mistakes, it does bring our moods up, and that’s something people might not realize from an outsider's perspective.” [ Editor’s Note: Bella Grimaldi is the Assistant News Editor for The Gatepost. ]
