The J. Taylor Finley Middle School girls’ soccer team won some and lost some, but always turned in its best effort.
The 25 player team was coached by Linda Roth and Ysrael Gonzalez. Jamie Garcia, Devon St. John, Molly O’Brien and Lauren Donaghy were Finley’s captains.
The roster was a mix of veterans and newcomers.
Players included seventh graders Julianna Ackerman, Ruby Baliber, Emma Boyle, Bridget Callery, Grayson Dunn, Wynne Franciscovich, Chelsea Gordon, Erika Hernandez Veliz, Mildred Hernandez Veliz, Emili Licona Banegas, Giselle Salmeron, Cameron Smith, Abigail Vasquez Mendez and Jolie Weinschreider along with eighth graders Ashley Alay, Daisy Campos, Sophie Carlson, Lauren Donaghy Jamie Garcia Soto, Isabelle Gregorio, Jenna Italiano, Molly O’Brien, Maggie O’Toole, Kaylee Smalling and Devon St. John.
“All the girls worked together to enhance the skill levels of each and every player on the team,” Roth said. “We were able to incorporate players who were brand new to the sport.”
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the compressed athletic seasons, Finley played a seven game schedule with contests against Oldfield, Deer Park, Stimson, Elwood, Wyandanch, Kings Park and Hauppauge.
“The kindness and compassion this team showed each other and lesser skilled opponents filled my heart,” Roth said.
Looking ahead to next fall, Finley expects to again field a team featuring a mixture of veterans and newcomers. “We will have many returning current seventh graders and some new faces,” Roth said.