Marlborough senior and dedicated student-athlete, Lilly ’25, has taken on the role of Varsity soccer team manager, leading the team in spirit and success. 

Having played soccer as a young girl, Lilly was inspired by her grandfather and father and was able to connect to her family through the sport. Her father played Division I soccer throughout college, and her grandfather was a coach of a soccer team. Lilly, however, was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in middle school, limiting her ability to participate in running sports.

Although Lilly has played volleyball since she was 7, she has sought a way to reconnect with soccer. Lilly discovered her role as Varsity soccer team manager through her friends from the Marlborough Class of 2024, many of whom played, and one who had previously managed the team. Lilly began her management career as co-manager with Brooke ’24 in her junior year, but her role is now much more involved than her first year.

As team manager, Lilly shows up to every practice and game and has not missed a single soccer match this season. She helps set up equipment during warm-ups and takes attendance for the coach, but she assumes a much bigger role on the team than just these small tasks. Lilly truly cultivates unity and an uplifting  team environment by planning team bonding events and dinners.

This season, Lilly has coordinated a team dinner and lunch and is planning an upcoming laser tag event for the team. Lilly also went above and beyond for the team’s seniors during senior night. Although a senior herself, she took on the role of planning, making signs, buying supplies and writing speeches for all of the team’s beloved seniors and to make the night extra special.

“I feel really grateful that I get to be a part of the team,” Lilly said.

A freshman on the Varsity soccer team, Zoe ’28 shared an anecdote about her first encounter with Lilly. Zoe, trying out for the team for the first time, recalled hearing Lilly shouting her name as she dribbled down the sideline despite never meeting her before. Piper looks to this moment as a testament to Lilly’s character.

“In the hallways, she always makes an effort to talk to me and she is such a sweet and charismatic person who cares for everyone before herself,” Zoe said.

Lilly emphasizes the importance of being a team and how it has impacted her Marlborough experience. She recalled the countless new friends she has continued to create in her senior year of high school, not only within her grade, but also the younger team members, which she considers the most rewarding part of being a team manager.

“I really love being with the younger kids and watching them grow,” Lilly said. “Being team manager made me value the Marlborough community in general.”