Young Valley girls soccer team ‘on the right track’

By: Shawn Annarelli
Thursday, August 29, 2019 | 7:32 PM

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The Valley girls soccer team has the foundation for a bright future in Section 2-AA.

The freshman class, Valley coach Aaron Smith said, is comparable to the group who led the Vikings to the postseason three years ago.

“This freshman class is even better early on in terms of skill level, but the size and aggressiveness would go to that other group,” Smith said. “I see similarities, and hopefully sooner rather than later they show they can compete to build their confidence, which would make them dangerous. Rome wasn’t built in a day, but we’re on the right track.”

Valley’s roster is made up of mostly freshman, with a few veteran players such as senior Domenica Wolfe and junior Emma Ruby Ward leading the way.

“Emma started stepping up since the start of camp as a leader,” Smith said. “She’s a very solid player in the midfield, and I’ve seen the younger girls look up to her. If something needs to be said, she’s usually the one to pipe up and say it.”

Several freshmen are expected to make an immediate impact.

Jordan Kirkwood will bring size and athleticism to the midfield. Center back Natalie Beckes is a strong, technical player who will help anchor the defense. And Leah Taliana could be a force as a forward.

Alayna Carlisle and Taylor Heuser are two more freshmen to keep an eye on, Smith said.

“We might be young, but we are skilled,” Smith said. “The inexperience will be tough with a couple top Class AA teams in our section, and there are teams we can battle with and compete with. We want to win the games we can win, but with teams we’ll struggle with, we want to keep those games close.”

Ward believes the team has potential for success if it sticks together.

“I grew up with the program and watched my older sister in it,” Ward said. “I’ve been around soccer my whole life, and I’ve seen this team go through everything. I got here a year after they made the playoffs, and we lost a lot of great girls. We have this new amazing group coming up. When you see them play together, the chemistry is undeniable.”

Those who have been around the program for years hope this freshman class will be the turning point.

“It’s my 10th year here, and we’re continually considered an underdog,” Smith said. “I generally embrace that, because wins are twice as sweet. I like the struggle, and when we get the results, we want it’ll feel even greater.”

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