Do you ever wonder what it’s like to be the coach of a high school sports team?  So many different things factor into the success of your season. Injuries, the strength of players coming up and personal matters all can affect a season. This girls team has had a lot to overcome. Coach Olaf lost many solid players last year who graduated, and has transitioned almost seamlessly from last year to this year.

Alden’s Varsity Girls Soccer team has started the season hot, building to a 6-1 record in league play. Their offense, led by Senior captain Caleigh Hoerner, has been phenomenal. But it’s the defense, led by freshman goalie Bri Brunner, that needs to be talked about. Bri has been a brick wall in the net, playing extremely well for a freshman new to this team. When asked about which player has defied expectations, Hoerner mentioned that Brunnre has “blown her away with her skills” and went on to complement her on her performance against Tonawanda earlier in the weak.

There have been many memorable moments in this fantastic season. When asked to talk about one, Junior Captain Nicolena Fazio recalled a game against Tonawanda and complimented Brunner’s impressive defensive work and their game-winning goal in the final 30 seconds. It was truly an amazing performance by this team in an important division game.

But the season isn’t over yet. Even those on top can always improve, and Caleigh Hoerner says the girls need work on playing above opponents who are not as good as them. She says they tend to play to the level of their opponent rather than playing at their own level, which is certainly a good thing to work on. This year, the girls have been able to do so and hopefully will continue as they enter the post-season.