Horizon’Äôs Carrera a spiritual leader

By JOHN PHILIP WYLLIE¬Ý

The Horizon High School Lady Panthers reached the quarterfinals of the CIF San Diego Section Division IV Soccer Tournament due in no small measure to the sterling play of center midfielder Allie Carrera. The four-year starter and a senior captain for the Panthers just exudes energy. Her contributions both as a player and as a leader have been vital to the team’Äôs success.

’ÄúI can always count on her to organize things and to encourage the girls on and off the field,’Äù said her coach, Matthew Chapman. ’ÄúIf I am not there she keeps everything under control. She plays center midfield so she commands the middle for us and orchestrates our attack. I would put her up there with any center midfielder in our league. In terms of leadership, I can tell that she is totally Christ-driven and she lives in order to glorify Him.

’ÄúWhen we choose our captains, we definitely consider their spiritual leadership ability and she encourages the girls in their Bible studies. She and our other captain also chose the prayer partners that we have to keep our girls accountable.’Äù

Soccer can be a rough sport. In fact, when interviewed, Carrera was rehabilating a sprained knee ’Äî but that was minor compared to the ACL tear that she suffered as a freshman.¬Ý

’ÄúI tore my ACL in the semifinal game of my freshman year. It was really easy to be mad at God and to be discouraged, but all the way through it God showed me that you can find good in suffering. He was the strength in my weakness. It was a difficult experience, but one that I wouldn’Äôt change for the world. I really learned a lot about His character and His goodness.’Äù¬Ý

Her rehabilitation period was not the only time in which Carrera has felt the presence of our Lord. For her, it is a frequent experience.¬Ý

’ÄúWhen you are tired and you feel you can’Äôt play any more, that is one of your defining moments. God gives you that heart and passion. I definitely get that feeling during tough games. You can definitely feel Him carrying you.’Äù¬Ý

Allie is not the first Carrera to excel on the soccer field at Horizon. Her older sister Michaela parlayed her highly successful high school career into a scholarship to Pepperdine University. Allie hopes to follow in her footsteps next season.

’ÄúMy sister was the first one to come here and she loved the environment. I was intrigued by that and so I came here when I was in seventh grade and I have been here ever since. I started off in public school in Spring Valley, but because of her influence I came here. The teachers and the administration here really let you know that they love you. Being able to have chapels every week is great and after I came here I found some great Christian friends. They have had a very positive influence on my life.’Äù¬Ý

Carrera has tried to exert the same type of positive Christian influence on her teammates, classmates and even on children in foreign countries.¬Ý

’ÄúI am glad to be one of our captains. I try to be encouraging to the other girls and I hope that my heart will rub off on them,’Äù Carrera said.¬Ý

She has taken several recent trips in order to contribute to the efforts of Christian missions in Jamaica, and Mexico. Having enjoyed those experiences, she is next headed for Costa Rica.¬Ý

’ÄúI am part of the missions class here aT school. When we visit these countries we put on mini-festivals, play with the kids, share our testimonies and preach the word. It is awesome! I pour my heart into everything that I do. I love being involved. It is exciting to be with different people especially in a Christian environment where it is totally about God. It is inspiring!’Äù¬Ý

¬Ý