The 14 players from SSCS on the combined SSCS/CV-S Girls Varsity Soccer Team for 2024 with SSCS Coach Randi Korona. Back row, left to right, are Alexzina Merritt, Isabella Cornwell, Payton Rullman, Kaitlyn Roosevelt, Maya Korona, Peyton Fassett, Calee Ostrander and Coach Korona. Front row, left to right, are Leighton Dunston, Kaylee Crewell, Zarie Fassett, Ava Jump, Yasmin Issa, Hailey Cashman and Ella Stevens.
It’s a new era for 2024 Lady Spartans Varsity Soccer as they take the field this fall combining forces with their neighbors from the Cherry Valley-Springfield (CV-S) CSD.
The combined girls team is made up of 14 players from SSCS and 10 players from CV-S under Coaches Randi Korona (SSCS) and Celia Rathbun (CV-S). They will play a 13-game regular season schedule. Homecoming is Saturday, Sept. 28, 1 p.m., versus Richfield Springs/ODY.
“We have set some pretty high goals for this team,” said Coach Korona, after just six practices in August and a non-league win Sept. 3 over Brookfield CSD on the new SSCS Anthony M. DiPace Field. “Playing in the Tri-Valley League is tough because there are so many strong Girls Varsity Soccer teams,” many of which have also merged squads in recent years. “But we believe we can finish in the top half of the league as long as everyone continues to put forth their best effort on a regular basis.”
Why the girls soccer merger?
CVS found itself in a tough spot this year, Korona explained, as they only had 10 players sign up to play Varsity Soccer. As a result, they would not have been able to field a full team on their own. Meanwhile, SSCS only had five girls available to play Modified Soccer.
“So it just made sense for us to combine at both levels so that all of these girls could have a chance to be a part of a team,” Korona said.
What’s to like about this new team?
In the short time they’ve been together, “I love how well the players communicate,” Korona said. “We have stressed the importance of on-field communication throughout our summer league season, and the girls have truly bought forward the importance of being able to communicate effectively as they play. As a merged team, you can’t help but wonder how well the girls from two schools will mesh, but I’m not exaggerating when I say that they truly trust one another and want to be a part of what each player has to offer.”
“It has been a very positive merger so far,” Korona added. “Coach Rathbun and myself met frequently to make sure we had a plan for how to successfully bring the girls from both schools together, and we continue to talk on a daily basis about how to make this team a truly great reflection of what both communities have to offer.”
What can fans from both school districts look forward to in 2024?
Lots of action and perhaps a run in the girls Sectional IV playoffs in October.
“This is a large team of competitive young ladies who want to win,” Korona said. “They are hungry for success and I think they’ll be fun to watch.”
Here are the SSCS varsity soccer players for 2024:
- Hailey Cashman – Junior
- Leighton Dunston – Junior
- Peyton Fassett – Junior
- Yasmin Issa – Junior
- Ava Jump – Junior
- Alexzina Merritt – Junior
- Kaylee Crewell – Sophomore
- Calee Ostrander – Sophomore
- Ella Stevens – Sophomore
- Isabella Cornwell – Freshman
- Zarie Fassett – Freshman
- Kaitlyn Roosevelt – Freshman
- Payton Rullman – Freshman
- Maya Korona – Grade 8
