Starting from the 2013 girls varsity soccer team Clara Lazaro has discovered her serious love for the game. I asked Clara, What made her experience playing at Norwalk high so memorable? ” Clara stated “My favorite part of playing soccer at Norwalk high was the friends I made. Playing was so fun and exciting, but I got to meet so many amazing people, that playing with them just made every game special. To this day I’m still close with almost everyone I played with for my 4 years.”
After graduating high school Lazaro decided to continue her love by playing in college. She currently plays at Western Connecticut State University, along with her older sister Imelda Lazaro, who also played goalie for the girls varsity soccer team here at NHS. Clara told me how playing with family had its ups and downs, she said “We would fight on the field if either of us made mistakes, but we played better together in our games since we grew up playing together. It was hard sometimes though because everyone loved to compare us. For example at our banquets I always got captains awards that had to do with her, like “Most likely to get yelled at by your sister.” It was irritating having awards that were associated with my sister because it made me feel less independent.” The two sisters still continue to play with each other through their college years. While on top of that they still manage to come back to visit and help at the Norwalk high girls soccer practices. Clara and her sister Ilmelda have volunteered their time in the past to help coach and do drills with our goalie. Not only that, they still have life long friends they made by playing on the NHS soccer team that they’re able to visit and see. They have been trying to keep improving the Norwalk Girls Soccer program by showing up to alumni games and so much more!
Clara went from being all FCIAC second team in 2017 to playing D3 at WestConn. I asked her what it’s like playing college soccer, she told me “Playing soccer in college is amazing because you go in and meet new people and don’t have to worry about not having friends at your new school. You go to college and you’re a part of a group so it makes the transition a little easier. It can sure be stressful at times because of all the training in addition to homework but overall I recommend it, it is a great experience.”