LA soccer players Emma Herko ’25, Bianca Bellino ‘25, Sophia Riccio ’26 and Elana Nieporent ’27 represented WardlaLAartridge at the inaugural GMC Leadership and Sportsmanship Summit at Metuchen High School on September 29. They were accompanied by veteran head coach Mike Romeo.
The event was part of the GMC’s third annual Soccer for a Cause Charity Festival, which included 11 games played throughout the weekend. The 22 participating teams raised funds for two New Jersey nonprofits that support pediatric cancer patients and other children in need.
While the Rams lost a tough 2-1 overtime game against Edison High School, they participated in a bigger cause for the greater good.
“It was a great experience for our girls to understand that what we do goes beyond the games on the field,” Coach Romeo said. “We can always learn from any opportunity to provide community service. It’s a valuable part of the overall athletic experience.”
The Friday night kickoff to the weekend was a valuable experience for the four LA players who participated. After some introductions and icebreakers, they enjoyed a dinner provided by the GMC and listened to guest speakers Kristen Edmonds and current NJ/NY Gotham FC teammate Abby Smith deliver inspiring keynote speeches. Edmonds, a former Metuchen High and Rutgers University standout, also served as an assistant coach at LA in 2015-2016.
“It was so much fun to play team building games with other GMC schools. I got to see friends I played club with and other friends that I've created on the high school soccer field, including new ones I made that night,” Emma said. “We also got to listen to local pro soccer players including former LA assistant girls’ varsity soccer coach Kristen Edmonds, who recently reached 100 caps in the NWSL (National Women's Soccer League). Their message expressed how high school is a time to explore and start turning into the person you want to become, specifically within your community through service. Overall, the night was impactful as we supported a great foundation that touches the hearts of many, especially within the GMC community, and we got to build positive connections with opponents.”
“It was an honor to be invited to and take part in the first Leadership and Sportsmanship Summit. We participated in icebreakers, team building activities, and listened to speakers discussing how much it meant to them for this event to be held,” Sophia added. “One of those speakers happened to be Abby Smith, a professional goalie who plays for Gotham FC in the National Women’s' Soccer League. As a high school goalie, it was the opportunity of a lifetime for me to be able to talk with and ask questions to someone of her caliber. Overall, I had a fantastic time and hope to be invited next year.”