A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Plum’s Mia Nardo

By: Ted Sarneso
Monday, September 16, 2024 | 11:01 AM

Plum girls soccer coach Jamie Stewart is pleased with the growth he has seen from senior forward Mia Nardo over the course of her four years.

“I am so pleased about the type of player she is,” Stewart said. “From where she was as a freshman to where she is today, to see that growth is amazing.”

One part of the maturation process for Nardo has been a shift in mentality, which also has led to a role change for her this year.

Last year, she finished second on the team in goals, but this year, Stewart says Nardo has embraced a team-first mentality.

“I want to find my teammates, get the correct pass off and create opportunities for them all over the field. I get my opportunities too, but the focus is to get others the ball,” Nardo said.

Said Stewart: “A year ago, we needed Mia to score more goals. We’re counting on her to score again this year, but her maturity level has risen. She knows it doesn’t matter who scores, just that the team scores. She’s more focused on the team’s success this year.”

Nardo’s team-first mentality stems from being named captain this year, and her message to her teammates is about maintaining a high level of confidence.

“We were a bit nervous coming into the season after losing a good group of seniors last year,” Nardo said. “So, I wanted to make sure everyone kept their heads up and maintained their confidence.”

So far, the message is working, as Plum is off to a 4-0 record overall with three of those wins coming in Section 4-3A competition. Every victory has been a shutout.

“Having that confidence ensures we have a strong connection with each other, helps us communicate better, which brings success,” Nardo said.

Nardo is well aware with the importance of communication. In her position as forward, she is being tasked with leading the charge in the transition game offensively and defensively.

“She brings a tenacity both in the attack and on defense,” Stewart said. “She’s really come into her own as a two-way player for us.”

Nardo took some time for a senior Spotlight Q&A:

What’s it like playing the forward position?

It’s a lot of running for me. I enjoy both the offensive and defensive aspects of the position. It means I’m contributing a lot, and it helps me understand our point of attack in our transition game.

How have you grown in the sport? How have your skills developed?

I do a lot of training outside of soccer. I work out a lot and run a ton. I get as many touches on the ball as I can, which I think has helped me improve in my four years. All the coaching I’ve received throughout the years on all the different teams I’ve played on has really helped to fix my bad habits and correct my mistakes.

What’s been the most memorable goal you scored in your high school career?

Last year in our second game against Latrobe. That was a huge game for us. We came out nervous, but our confidence started to build after our first goal and when I scored our second one, we collectively had the belief that we would win that game. It was an exciting moment, and I’ll remember that game forever.

What lessons have you learned from playing sports?

Stay dedicated, and not every loss is going to be the end of the world and you’ll get another chance. You can learn from every mistake you make. I always think that my mistakes will always affect the way I play the rest of the game.

Are you involved in any other sports or activities at school?

I just joined the Best Buddies Club at school today. That’s a club where we go and work with the special needs kids at our school. We’ll help with their activities and look to provide a great experience for them on their field trips or game nights. It’s all about providing a great time for them.

What are your post high school plans?

My two main plans are to either go to the University of Pittsburgh and study physical therapy, (or) if I wanted to continue to play soccer, it would be at Carlow University while also studying physical therapy.

What’s one piece of advice you’d want to leave your teammates?

Take in every moment. Time flies by really fast. Never let your head fall down. Keep it up at every moment because you’ll never know what happens next.

Tags: Plum