A-K Valley athletes of the week: St. Joseph’s Daniel Fábregas, Springdale’s Jade Vrabel

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, October 2, 2018 | 8:39 PM

Previous Next

Previous Next

Daniel Fabregás

School: St. Joseph

Class: Senior

Sport: Soccer

Report card: It’s no coincidence that St. Joseph’s recent five-game win streak came with Fabregás on a scoring tear. The Spartans’ captain was tops on the team through Tuesday with 30 goals and eight assists from his striker spot. Fabregás needs two goals to set a new St. Jospeh (5-8, 4-5) season scoring record set by Mark Sadler in the early 2000s. He also notched six hat tricks this season. Fabregás also plays point guard on basketball team.

How long have you been playing soccer?

At least since I was 5.

What’s the deal with the Spartans’ sudden turnaround this season?

(Early in the season), we couldn’t put together a full 80 minutes of soccer. We’d play really well in spurts and then have a 10-minute lapse.

How do you explain the scoring tear you’re on?

To be honest, my speed is a big part of it. As a striker, I know that my speed is my best attribute.

St. Joseph is sitting in the final section playoff spot by one game. Can the Spartans hang on the rest of the way?

Yeah, I think we can for sure. We have a really difficult stretch of games coming up. We know we have what it takes to beat these teams now that we have our groove on.

Will this team be dangerous in the postseason?

Yeah. I think one of the things we have going for us is that if (these teams) see our record, they’re gonna brush us aside.

What’s the strength of this year’s team?

I think resilience for sure. It would have been the easy way out to say that we’re 0-7, we lost the first four conference games and the season’s over. We want to win and work as a unit to get to the playoffs.

Where do the Spartans need to get better to make a run into the postseason?

I think defensively, we can do better. I know me personally, I have a tendency to not get back and help out on defense.

What three words best describe you?

Loud. High-energy. Easygoing.

What kind of advice would you give your freshman self?

Definitely, don’t be pressured by expectations.

What’s your favorite thing about the fall months?

Pumpkin spice everything. I love pumpkin spice so much.

What’s your favorite subject at school?

Math. Specifically, business calculus.

What are your plans for after high school?

I want to major in business at a university. Top choices right now are Villanova and Pitt.

What is something interesting about you that people don’t know?

I’m a very picky eater. I’ve been that way since I was really young.

Jade Vrabel

School: Springdale

Class: Senior

Sport: Soccer

Report card: Vrabel helped put surging Springdale (4-5, 2-3) in the win column twice last week. A team captain, she scored twice in the Dynamos’ 5-1 win over Valley and came through with two more goals in a 7-0 win over Section 1-A rival Riverview. Vrabel has six goals and one assist from her forward spot. She also runs the 100-meter hurdles for the track team.

How long have you been playing soccer?

Since I was 4 years old.

Can you sum up this team’s season so far?

We’ve progressed a lot since last year. Our chemistry is very good this year. We all work really well on the field together.

How big is next week’s home match very Riverview? Winner has the inside track on the last section playoff spot.

That’s huge. They are our rival team, too. That would be a huge win for us.

What’s the strength of this year’s team?

Possession. We do really well possessing the ball and getting open on the field.

Where do the Dynamos need to get better to make a run into the postseason?

Definitely, we do struggle at taking shots and finishing. That is one of the things that we do struggle on.

What three words best describe you?

Practical. Positive. Driven.

What kind of advice would you give your freshman self?

Probably to play every game like it was my last and to not regret anything.

What’s your favorite thing about the fall months?

Halloween, and it’s cold.

What’s your favorite subject at school?

Human anatomy.

What are your plans for after high school?

To go to college and probably go into the pre-med track. To do what? I’m not sure.

What is something interesting about you that people don’t know?

I’m really good at art, and I like to knit.

What kind of art?

I like to draw and paint watercolors.

What have you knitted?

I’m not that good. I knitted a scarf or two.

— William Whalen

Tags: Springdale, St. Joseph