Starting Out

Falling into the sport at around five years old, Molly Reardon ‘26 started what would be almost 12 years of commitment, drive and competitiveness towards soccer, an activity she would learn to love. Reardon was originally thrown into the sport by her parents as a way to keep active and busy on the weekend, but it quickly turned into her watching the women’s national team and looking up to the famous soccer player Alex Morgan, every little girl’s idol.

However, Reardon has also participated in other sports as she has been a runner for most of her life. “I have always been a runner, so if I did not play soccer, I would run cross country. I also would have loved to try out volleyball,” she said. 

Soccer has not only impacted Reardon but also the people and friends she has made along the way. “I made a bunch of friends that I am still friends with to keep me playing. As I grew up, though, it was the competitiveness of the sport and the drive always to get better but have a close team that made me want to continue playing and be serious about playing,” said Reardon. 

Through the sport, Reardon has created friendships that will stick with her, as she and her peers have been through the ups and downs of a sport they all so equally love. The bond you create within a team is something that will drive you to be the best you can be and continue to improve.

A Destined Path

As a junior, Reardon is still figuring out what her future is going to look like and how she is going to juggle both soccer and school. “I would love to be able to play in college while studying because I love having a team and group of girls that I can see every day and share lots of memories with because we love the sport we play,” she explained.

When on the field, Reardon’s motivations for the sport and drive are what really make her a star player. The hours she spends on the field with the Hollis Brookline (HB) Varsity Soccer Team, and the hours she spends with her club team, show her passion and love for the sport. 

It’s one thing to have the talent, but that means nothing if you don’t have the passion for it, which is exactly what makes Reardon so special: she has both.

Inspiration for the Game

“Myself. I love soccer. I love playing it. I love watching it,” said Reardon. The one thing she can always count on is herself when it comes to the game. Reardon inspires herself to play and push herself until she decides she doesn’t want to anymore.

The feeling of achieving something and pushing herself as far as she can is something that keeps Reardon going and motivates her to play. But, ultimately, it’s her love for the sport that she holds onto.

An important influence in Reardon’s motivation to play is her father, as he has been a crucial part of her improvement and is someone she looks forward to seeing in the stands at every game. “We watch soccer together every weekend and we are always talking about it. He comes to watch every game, drives me to every practice, and has listened to me talk for hours about it,” said Reardon.

Having people in her corner who she knows will support her no matter what is something that Reardon appreciates and is continuously grateful for. Her friends are also crucial in pushing Reardon and keeping her in touch with the sport. Having friends in a sport she loves so dearly keeps Reardon excited to show up and play each game.

Winning the Championship

The HB Girls Varsity Soccer team competed against a strong and aggressive team in the championships for the past two seasons but came out on top each time. “It was like finally breaking some barrier,” said Reardon about winning for the first time in 2023.

In both years, the girls’ team was expected to win, and luckily, they did! All the hard work and determination in the sport paid off. “It feels amazing to run up to your friends, who also get to be your teammates and share the joy after all the work on the field,” said Reardon. At the end of the day, it’s the friendships you make that mean the most when winning.

Reardon remembers this past season with the championship win and remembers the joy and hard work that was put onto the field. During the match, Reardon got hit in the face with a ball, leaving her with a bloody nose and a different jersey that was two sizes too big, yet she still had the passion to play. 

Having supportive community, friends and family around you is something Reardon is grateful that she has and is also something she remembers feeling extra close to that day her team won the championships for the second time.

Lessons Learned

Even though Reardon has learned and gained a lot out of the past 11 years of playing soccer, the main thing she takes away is the journey to glory. “Success is not a one way trajectory or step-by-step plan, and this applies to all areas of life, like academics, friendships, etc. There will be ups and downs, and that is natural,” explained Reardon. 

However, Reardon has also learned to not get too pessimistic. “Comparison is also the thief of joy. It’s hard not to compare when other players are at different steps or milestones in their careers, but keep focusing on bettering yourself and you will get better.  If you only focus on others’ success, you will never find your own,” she said.

Both lessons are reflections of Reardon’s hard work over these past years and show her growth in not only the sport but also who she is as a person.