As a member of the NC varsity Girls Soccer Team (1-9), sophomore centerback Malena Cobo (11) proves her dedication to success both on and off the field. Cobo, who joined the team in the 2024-2025 season, serves as a positive and uplifting voice in the locker room. After competing as a swing player her freshman year, the sophomore looks to lead her team to the playoffs by remaining competitive and encouraging teamwork.
Cobo not only plays for NC, but for clubs such as NASA Tophat. Boasting academic honor rolls and achievement awards, the countless hours of practice and games week after week do not hinder Cobo’s commitment to her academic endeavors. During school hours, Cobo spends her first two periods at home with Cobb Virtual Academy (CVA), staying on top of her online work and any leftover assignments she accumulates from her in-person classes. The slow start to her day allows Cobo to strengthen her mindset for constant late-night games.
“My inspiration to play will always be my mom. She has sacrificed so much for me and motivated me to be my best on the field always. She pays for my clothes, my camps, and all the important things I need to be a good soccer player. My team is like family and we get along really well and make good connections off the field and that helps our performance,” Cobo said.
The start of the season brought fresh opportunities for Cobo, who competed as both the JV and varsity throughout the past season. While the JV Warriors struggled last season, Cobo’s teammates functioned as an additional benefit to practices and games. The 5-0 win against McEachern represented a turning point in the Warriors’ season, and the team posted a 4-0 victory against Marietta to round out the season April 3, 2025. Impressively, Cobo simultaneously played on the varsity squad during the 2024-2025 season and contributed to standout wins over Woodland, South Cobb and Marietta.
Positionally, Cobo sets her teammates up for success on the field. Her job as a center back contributes to goal scoring and assisting impressive shots. While Cobo possesses the ability to individually score, she prides herself on her skill to assist. Defense also falls at the top of Cobo’s priority list as a player. By preventing goals on one end, the offensive chances of a goal skyrocket for NC. For example, one goal decided the difference in the team’s win over Wheeler this season.
“I am very excited for the upcoming season. I think we have a very good core and Malena’s role on the team. We all have a lot of fun playing together and enjoy hanging out outside of school, too. I think that our closeness helps us on the field too,” magnet senior center back Logan Kirkland (22) said.
Only a sophomore, Cobo’s impressive game and strong academic performance signal a positive sign for the future of NC soccer. Future aspirations for Cobo include becoming a team captain and expanding her role within the team to further push them to success. Playing for her team remains at the forefront of Cobo’s goals for not only this season, but until her final game playing for NC.
The Chant wishes Cobo good luck on her season!
