Joining the Century Club – A Feature on Lula Wamberg’s 100th Career Goal
Portsmouth Christian Academy Senior, Lula Wamberg, isn’t one to speak often or loudly, but what she keeps under wraps in terms of her demeanor she lets loose on the field. On September 26th, in a 2-1 OT loss to Concord Christian, Lula joined PCA Soccer’s “Century Club”, becoming the second soccer player in school history to score 100 career goals. Despite her reputation as a dangerous attacker on the field, Lula’s calm, reliable demeanor, combined with her relentless pursuit of excellence in practice and in games, makes her the ideal player to help lead a high-performing Women’s Soccer team for PCA.
Lula’s coach, Athletic Director Derek Summers, echoed this sentiment when asked his thoughts on Lula’s accomplishment, “When Lula Wamberg joined the varsity team as a freshman, she made an immediate impact on our program. Her passion for soccer was evident from the first time she stepped on the field. She sets high goals for herself and has a strong desire to win. In addition to these traits, Lula also has an incredible work ethic. She often asks to stay after practice to continue to improve her skill in the sport she loves. It is no surprise to see what Lula has accomplished… she is determined to make it happen.”
“Lula could be described as a quiet but deadly player… She can strike before you even know she is there! While she was primarily just a scorer as an underclassman, she has developed into a well-rounded player. Lula has been a team captain for her junior and senior seasons and is well loved by her teammates. She is always looking to help them out, whether on or off the field. No matter what personal accolades she achieves, her desire to win as a team supersedes all!”
When asked about what it meant to reach such a big milestone, Lula, of course, made it more about the team than herself.
“It feels incredible to reach this milestone. I never dreamed I would be able to reach 100 goals. This is a culmination of a lot of hard work and dedication over the last four years. I like to set goals for myself and work continuously to exceed them. This did not truly become one of my goals until around the middle of my junior year, when I realized it may be possible. I am so grateful to all my teammates, coaches, and parents for all their support. I have had the honor of playing for Coach Summers since my freshman year and Coach Stockbower since seventh grade on various teams. They have impacted me so much as a player and as a person and for that I am forever grateful. Finally reaching 100 goals felt great in the moment, but I would have been much more excited had we pulled out the win in the end. I am so thankful for 100 goals, but I am always looking ahead and excited for how far we are going to make it as a team this season.”
To boot, we asked Lula what some of her strengths are as a soccer player, and in one way, we were surprised by her answer, but in another–we weren’t surprised at all.
“Truly my biggest strength is my team. I have the best team which is the reason I have had so many opportunities. My coaches are absolutely amazing. My family has supported me from day one and have been my biggest fans. My mom and dad give me the best pep talks and advice before every game to make sure I remember everything I need to accomplish during the game. My shot is my greatest strength, as I am ambipedal, meaning I can play and shoot with both feet. I practice a lot (often staying after practices, working on the weekends, and throughout the PCA offseason) to fine tune my shot, working on its accuracy and strength, and visualizing the placement of the ball. Tatiana Stockbower and I have been playing together and on various teams since seventh grade. Our chemistry on the field has always been our strongest point and shows through our give and goes, assisting each other, and the ability to find each other on the field. We have both worked so hard and played together so much.”
Again, pointing back to her team, on the field and in her family on the sidelines, before pointing to herself–another reason Lula has continued to impress her teammates, coaches, and the rest of Division IV.
…Lula also has an incredible work ethic. She often asks to stay after practice to continue to improve her skill in the sport she loves. It is no surprise to see what Lula has accomplished… she is determined to make it happen.”
To top it all off, we asked Lula to summarize her experience as a student-athlete at PCA:
“I have had the amazing opportunity to captain junior and senior years. It has been a real honor to help lead these great girls. My freshman year, our team went to quarter finals, and sophomore year we made it to the state semifinals for the first time. It has been so fun to watch the other teams and coaches give our team recognition as contenders after all our hard work over the past few years. I feel so blessed to be a part of such an amazing and supportive community. In this past week, I was up for player of the week and the entire school (both upper and lower) rallied behind me and continued voting. This stuck out to me because it is truly what PCA embodies. I felt the support of everyone at PCA and it was so encouraging.”
We’re so thankful for the entire Wamberg Family, Dodd, Heather, Lula, Avery, and Sylvie, and the ongoing legacy that Lula, Avery, and Sylvie are leaving on the field, in the classroom, and in all their contributions to our community.
Be sure to check the schedule for the time and date of the NHIAA Division IV Quarterfinal matchup, which will be hosted by PCA on home field.