The final game of the 2024 girls’ soccer season for Technology High School occurred on Nov 8 this year. Coached by Fatima Forden and assistant coach Tracy Si, the Titans made the playoffs for the second year in a row, where they took on St. Bernards at their home field for the semi-finals game. Their team consisted of 18 girls this year, and they were all thrilled at the chance to win it all at playoffs. Although the year ended in a 2-4 loss, these girls still had an eventful and record-breaking season, including the title for most goals scored being passed on to a new player.
Since 2019, Kayli Worden has held the school record for most goals scored in one season at 33 goals. This year, captain and last year’s MVP for the girls’ team, Maliea Deniz, now holds that title with 34 goals scored in one season. In an interview with Deniz, she described how her soccer journey began. “I started playing soccer at around seven years old all because I wanted to be like my big sister and best friend who were both playing at the time.” She has been playing soccer for around 10 years, playing for various teams. Starting on a Rohnert Park recreational soccer team, Deniz played on different competitive travel teams for Petaluma and Santa Rosa before starting high school. “During freshman and sophomore years, I continued to play on both my competitive team and for high school,” she says.
Deniz has played many positions on the field throughout her time playing soccer. “I have at some point played every position, but my favorites are forward and mid,” she says. For Tech, she has been a star offensive player. She even received the title of Most Valuable Offensive Player for the 2023 Tech High girls’ soccer season. Along with her 34 goals, she had 21 assists and 48 shots.
This being Maliea’s senior year, it was filled with many emotions. She explained how the final game was one of the most memorable ones in her soccer career. “My favorite memory from this season was our final game because although we went out with a loss in my final soccer game ever, when the final whistle blew, my teammates came and gave me big hugs because they knew how much the sport meant to me.” The season did end on a high note, even with the loss at the semi-finals. All the players came off the field united, knowing it was one of their best games as a team. “This feeling of support from them is why I play a team sport, and knowing that they cared so much made it an unforgettable night,” Deniz says.
Maliea played soccer all four years at Tech High. Within those four years, she has proved to be a very important player on the field for the team. Not only for her game skills but also for her leadership skills and the positive spirit she brings to the team. Next year will be hard for the Titans without Maliea, but she left a bit of advice for next year’s players. “The advice I would give to new or first-time soccer players is to work hard, but also remember to enjoy the game because having fun is just as important as improving.”
As both a player and a person, Maliea is a great teammate, and her impact on the field and her fellow teammates this year was like never before. Her impressive record-breaking season has sadly ended, but she has left her mark as one of the Technology High School’s best student-athletes.
