After an upsetting loss in the semifinals last year, the girls’ soccer team is looking to strike back better than ever. The team took a huge blow in the offseason with the departure of key seniors Cameron Fallacara and Mikala Allen. However, this hasn’t stopped the girls from playing strong on the field, sitting with a record of 3-2-1 in their first six matches.
Head Coach Daniel Gross made it his goal to help mature his young and upcoming team to future playoff success. “We’re a very young team, so help show them the proper ways to play and set a nice, good winning attitude,” Gross said. “Try to improve the culture and set the path forward for us to continue to have success for years to come.”
Gross is stepping back behind the girl’s bench for the first time in nearly 17 years. In recent years, Gross was the assistant coach for the boys’ soccer team.
Senior offensive captain Sophia Vianest described Gross’ coaching as very practice-driven. “We have had a lot of practices, and we did a lot of pre-season training to get into shape.”
Last season, Vianest tallied a total of 34 points consisting of 10 goals and 24 assists. As a midfielder, Vianest is looking to chip in this year and take over what was formerly Fallacara’s quarters. In her first five games, she has scored five goals, 12 points, and one hat trick, scored against Port Charlotte.
For the third year in a row, senior Payton Jones will be the starting goalie in net. Last year, Jones suited up for 18 games in which she had a 0.823 save percentage. When on the field, she scored three goals and notched four assists, a career high for her.
In her first four games this season, Jones has held a 0.615 save percentage with an average of 3.74 goals against. Additionally, Jones has managed to score two goals in the same game Vianest tallied a hatty.
Playing in Jones’ zone is senior defensive captain Sophia Fallacara. A team of bloodlines, Fallacara hopes to keep the name alive and have yet another successful season.
According to Jones, the two captains have an unbreakable bond. “[Both Sophias] have great chemistry that allows the team to consistently enjoy the time we have together on and off the field, in season and out of season,” Jones explained.
Gross believes that the connection between the two Sophias will give an example to the younger core on how chemistry leads to team success. “We’re looking for the older players to help set the tone, as they have,” said Gross
“Most of our team is in ninth and 10th grade, so it’s a young group of girls. They both have done a good job. All the older players have been helping the younger girls get used to what’s expected of in high school sport. We’re building on our chemistry, it’s getting better as we go.”
Vianest explained her relationship with Fallacara as almost like a sister relationship. “We always call ourselves “Soph squared” because we’re always together and we’re just, kind of like the same person sometimes,” Vianest said.
Their connection is displayed really well on the field, especially on the offensive end. “She’s very good with communicating out of the back, a good person to direct traffic through middle and on the outside lines, so while I do the front upper half of the field, she does the back,” said Vianest.
Outside of “Soph squared,” the team is extremely reliable offensively and defensively. Seniors Olivia Toro and Alex Sanchez provide straight-to-the-net goal scoring and open passing lanes.
On the back end, juniors Chloe Dean and Abby Mourning kill any attempts of the opposition setting up in front of the goalie’s office.
Like every team, fan engagement is the best form of motivation. The girls have their next home game on Sunday December 19th at 7:30pm against district rival North Fort Myers High. The Seahawks will be hosting their final home regulation game on Thursday January 16th at 7pm against Aubrey Rogers High. Come out and witness greatness in the nest!
