After a truly exciting 2022 season, a trip to Sectional play and seeing five senior players graduate last spring, the SSCS Girls Varsity Soccer Spartans face the challenge of rebuilding this year.

 

“There is no doubt that we are a young team,” said Spartans Coach Randi Korona. “The underclassmen have a lot of responsibility on their shoulders this season.”

 

Graduating in June were senior players Alicia Burke, Rachel Burke, Madison Giardino, Emma Jump and Madison Westerman. Korona described these five as “tremendous players” and “the core of the SSCS team for three years.”

 

However she has supreme confidence in the group of girls she is putting on the field this season, many of whom continued to develop their skills in the offseason at last summer’s soccer league at Mohawk Valley Community College.

 

“This is one hard working crew,” she said. “We may struggle in a few of our early games, but there is no doubt that we will improve as the season goes on. I’m hopeful that as long as we don’t get discouraged early on we can end the season with a good run.”

 

This new SSCS team has, in fact, built more strength into its midfield attack with the addition of some up and coming eighth and ninth graders. “As they gain more confidence it should really help our ball movement all across the field,” the coach pointed out.

 

But nothing will come easy.

 

“Our league is very strong again this year,” Korona said. “Tri-Valley girls soccer is nothing to take lightly. While it may be challenging, we will face a lot of opponents who will truly make us better in the long run.”

 

Let’s take a look at this year’s Lady Spartan team by order of their player numbers. Player profiles provided by Coach Korona:

#1 Leighton Dunston – Sophomore – Midfield

• Favorite Subject: English
• Favorite Song: “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue”
• Strengths: Endurance, speed, shooting accuracy
• Working on: Using non-dominant foot, first touch
• Coach’s Comments: “Leighton’s ‘never say die attitude’ does so much for her teammates. She’s willing to push herself to the max for her team, and it brings a lot of positive energy to the field.”

#2 Lilly Tessier (Co-Captain) – Junior – Defense

• Favorite Subject: English
• Favorite Song: Paint the Town Red
• Strengths: Ability to see the field/scanning, reading angles, shutting down opponents
• Working on: Using non-dominant foot, developing more offensive mindset
• Coach’s Comments: “Lilly is the positive leader that this young team needs.  She leads both by example and verbally, as well.  You would never guess that this is only her 3rd year playing soccer, and we’re so glad she decided to give it a try.”

#3 Yasmin Issa – Sophomore – Midfield

• Favorite Subject: Global History
• Favorite Book: Of Mice and Men
• Strengths: Endurance, ability to use her body, beating opponents to the ball
• Working on: More effective second touch after controlling the ball
• Coach’s Comments: “Yasmin is the player who has shown the most growth in the off season.  She has improved so much and her commitment to her team and desire to better herself is simply unmatched.”

#4 Zarie Fassett – 8^th Grade – Midfield

• Favorite Subject: Physical Education
• Favorite Movie: Fault in our Stars
• Strengths: Can play both offense and defensive very effectively, has a quick first touch, can read defenses well
• Working on: developing more power in her shot, using her body to shield the ball
• Coach’s Comments: “Zarie’s ability to see the field is unbelievable for her age. She uses her point guard mentality to set up plays and beat her opponents. She is going to be a key player on this team for years to come.”

#5 Mikayla Attaway – Senior – Midfield

• Favorite subject: Forensics
• Favorite song: Broken Clocks
• Strengths: Endurance, speed, quick learning
• Working on: First touch, ball control
• Coach’s Comments: “It’s actually amazing how quickly Mikayla has picked up this sport.  Having never played soccer before, she already understands positioning and is working her butt off for her team. We’re so glad that Mikayla joined us this year!”

#6 Peyton Fassett – Sophomore – Defense

• Favorite Subject: Science
• Favorite Athlete: Messi
• Strengths: Using her body, playing smart, powerful strike, throw-ins
• Working on: setting herself up with her first touch
• Coach’s Comments: “Peyton is extremely versatile. She can literally play any position on the field and play well there. She contributes so much to this team from one end of the field to the other, and her throw-ins go farther than most people’s kicks!”

#11 Calee Ostrander – Freshman – Midfield

• Favorite Subject: Study Hall
• Favorite Book: The Outsiders
• Strengths: Powerful kick, great shot, always hustling
• Working on: Positioning, first touch, thinking when moving
• Coach’s Comments: “Calee worked hard in the offseason to become the player that she is.  She is another versatile player who will see time in the midfield and on defense. She shows a lot of grit and it’s something that gets everyone pumped up.”

#12 Kaylee Crewell – Freshman – Midfield

• Favorite Subject: English
• Favorite Book: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
• Strengths: playing smart, footwork, great shot/cross
• Working on: Playing quickly, using her body & non-dominant foot
• Coach’s Comments: “I love Kaylee’s playing style. She may be small, but she plays with her head and is always in the right place at the right time. Kaylee has great ball control and is going to develop into a serious threat for us.”

#13 Korawan Boonlert – Senior – Midfield/Striker

• Favorite Class: Homeroom
• Favorite Athlete: SSCS GV Soccer team
• Strengths: First touch, footwork, using both feet
• Working on: positioning, taking more shots
• Coach’s Comments: “Korawan is very comfortable with the ball at her feet. She is an excellent passer and sets up her teammates very well. I’m hoping for a big senior season from her!”

#18 Alexzina Merritt – Sophomore – Midfield/Defense

• Favorite Subject: English
• Favorite Athlete: Brittany Isenhour
• Strengths: Ball control, getting her foot on the ball, speed
• Working on: Maintaining a consistent second touch, stronger shot
• Coach’s Comments: “Alex had 2 great scrimmages for us this pre-season. She was able to carry the ball well down the wing and she passes well with her teammates. She is another versatile player who will be called upon to fill many roles this season.”

#20/30 Evani Patel – Freshman – Midfield

• Favorite Subject: Spanish
• Favorite Athlete: Kobe Bryant
• Strengths: Speed, getting to the ball, positioning
• Working on: First touch, shooting form
• Coach’s Comments: “Evani pushed herself in our summer league so that by the end of the season she was consistently beating the other team to the ball. As someone who is still new to the sport, I look forward to seeing how she develops as the season progresses.”

#21 Hailey Cashman – Sophomore – Midfield/Defense

• Favorite Subject: English
• Favorite Song: Twisted Love
• Strengths: Aggressiveness, using her body, power kick
• Working on: Using non-dominant foot, getting a consistent controlled first touch
• Coach’s Comments: “Hailey is another player who has had a great pre-season. She played very well in our scrimmages, and has improved tremendously since last season. She always pushes herself and sets goals for herself.”

#27 Caitlyn Engle – Sophomore – Midfield/Striker

• Strengths: Using her body, control with trapping, playing smart
• Working on: Getting quick passes off, stepping quickly to the ball
• Coach’s Comments: “Caitlyn is adjusting well to Varsity play. She has been quick to pick up positioning and always fights for position when the ball is in her area. I love her determination in attacking the ball.”

#34 Rosa Brown – Senior – Defense/Midfield

• Favorite Subject: Physical Education
• Favorite Song: Sunshine and Whiskey
• Strengths: Passing, trapping, and positive mindset
• Working on: Endurance and more talk on the field
• Coach’s Comments: “Rosa has set some awesome goals for herself this season. She is someone who everyone gets along with and wants to see her have a good senior year. She works hard in the midfield and has come a long way in getting a positive first touch on the ball.”

#99 Ava Jump (Co-Captain) – Sophomore – Goalkeeper

• Favorite Class: English
• Favorite Song: The Spins
• Strengths: Communicating, organizing her defense, punts, cutting off angles for saves
• Working on: Diving to her left
• Coach’s Comments: “Ava saves our butt on a regular basis. She is the rock of this team. Watching her sacrifice everything to make a stop fires up the rest of our crew and we will depend on those big stops all season.”

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