Athlete Of The Week: Gabriela Freitas

PLEASANT LAKE – A looping shot and score by junior Gabriela Freitas halfway through the second half against Falmouth Academy last Thursday, Sept. 4 ensured the Cape Cod Tech girls soccer team would be starting their season off strong.

Freitas’ goal with about 20 minutes remaining erased the 1-0 advantage Falmouth Academy held for much of the match, and the two sides thereafter played to a 1-1 draw. 

“I had a good spot on the field, and I decided to shoot it,” Freitas said.

Only two years ago, Falmouth Academy had beaten the Crusaders twice, outscoring them 11-0 across both games, so the tie Thursday — clinched in part by Freitas’ scoring — served to represent the progress made by the Cape Tech program.

And Freitas, head coach Eric Rondina said, is the “best player by far” on the team.

The dribbling and touch of Freitas, when she has the ball, stands out distinctly. She also acts as a coach on the field, directing less experienced players to the right spots on the pitch, according to Rondina.

“Her passes are on point,” Rondina said. “She knows where the ball is going to be before she even gets the ball or is thinking about passing.”

A year after Cape Tech won its first (and later second) game in about two decades, Freitas is optimistic about the season to come. For one, the team has more players than it’s had in past years. More players “just creates a great program,” Freitas said.

After the tie with Falmouth Academy last Thursday, the Crusaders followed up with a 3-0 win against Atlantis Charter on Monday.

“I think we’re looking pretty good for this season,” Freitas said.