Co-Captain Emily Mara ’25 leads the team to success through bonding, by striving for each player to reach the height of their ability. Committed to play Division I Soccer at Boston College, she aspires to share her knowledge and experience with her teammates and contribute to the team’s growth both on and off the field.
Growing up with the influence of her sister — who shared similar athletic goals as Mara — has had a profound impact on Mara’s soccer journey.
Mara said, “I like to model my game after my older sister. She is a relentless player with a willingness to succeed. She has always inspired me as a player and pushed me to be better.”
With a central philosophy that focuses on reaching a player’s individual potential, Mara encompasses ambition and fitness. Drawing inspiration from her sister, Mara hopes to encourage her teammates and help set them up for success.
“Our team motto is ‘whatever it takes,’ so we always try to play with those words in mind. We set our goals as a team, then recognize we will do whatever it takes in order to achieve,” said Mara.
Hayden Fischer ’25 recognizes Mara’s empathetic attitude towards her teammates. Mara is able to create a space where success becomes the driving force for the team, inspiring others to follow her lead.
“Emily Mara is a very passionate and caring person. She always looks out for others and she is a very inspiring player… Her grit and fight to win is very inspirational on the team and that character trait runs off the rest of the team. It has definitely led to many of our wins and comebacks,” Fischer said.
Mara’s influence extends well beyond her performance on the field. In fact, she considers leadership to be the area where she has made the most improvement, recognizing that the core of the team’s success lies in its organization.
“I have improved most on my leadership skills and communication on and off the field, whether it be through leadership meetings or personal experiences,” said Mara.
With working with Head Coach Lisa Joel, Mara fosters a welcoming and well-structured atmosphere. According to Fischer, this is achieved by receiving constructive feedback during matches, organizing activities to regain mental and physical rejuvenation.
Fischer said, “I think Lisa and Emily are very close so they talk about how the team culture can improve and how that can lead us to more wins. They talk at halftime during our games and talk a lot after practice, and organize team dinners.”
Mara not only serves as a significant influence on her own team but also emerges as a formidable challenge for the opposing teams. This forces teams to adapt to her distinctive playing style and come up with new ways to challenge her.
“A lot of these higher level teams we have been playing definitely watch film, so they know [Mara’s] playing style which is very unique. We have to shift the way we attack because of that. A lot of the time, she will get doubled or even triple teamed, so I feel like it does have an impact on the game because people know who she is and her skill level. Sometimes it gets into the other team’s head,” Fischer said.
Throughout the remainder of the season, Mara hopes to work towards more wins, with a focus on unifying the team, both on and off the field.
Mara said, “My goal this season is to try and cultivate a team environment that promotes a sense of community as well as success.”
