Finley Girls’ Soccer Building a Winner
It’s hard to believe how it was even possible, but this year’s girls’ soccer team at J. Taylor Finley Middle School featured a 50-player roster. Although the squad finished with a 3-7 mark, both players and head coach Linda Costello-Roth seem deserving of some type of award.
With such a huge stable of players, the Falcons had six captains with eighth graders Hayley Drace, Ashley Eybergen, Cynthia Gowani, Megan Healy, Naomi Medina-Jaudes and Summer Rudish providing invaluable leadership and slick skills.
“All 50 girls jelled nicely,” Costello-Roth said. “Everyone from our novice to elite players had a role on this team and they filled it well.”
Rudish, who starred on the front line, “always expected the best from herself and others,” the coach said. Drace proved to be a graceful defender who “always had a smile for everyone and was very encouraging to teammates.”
Medina-Jaudes displayed a “soft-spoken presence on the field,” the coach said. “She’ll have a great career in soccer.” Gowani was exceptional in all facets of defensive play, giving “good direction on and off the field,” added Costello-Roth.
Eybergen was tops at goalkeeper and Healy showed off some eye-catching foot skills while at the same time “helping others realize their potential by consistently raising the bar,” noted Costello-Roth.
With so many players, it took time for the team to start firing on all cylinders. “During our sixth game, the girls just came together,” Costello-Roth said. “Each of the four squads was perfectly balanced and looked amazing. Even with so many gifted players, our record was not indicative of the growth that all of the girls experienced. The good players go better and helped the less experienced girls also improve their skills.”
It’s entirely plausible to think that next fall the Falcons could very well soar. “With potentially 30 returning seventh graders, I am looking forward to beginning to develop a longstanding tradition of excellence for the Finley girls’ soccer program,” Costello-Roth said.
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