The J. Taylor Finley Middle School girls’ soccer team has many stars in the making this fall. It’s clear that more than a few of the seventh and eighth graders that comprise the squad’s large roster are talented enough to be destined for successful varsity careers.
In her final season as the Finley head coach before retiring next June, Linda Costello-Roth is having fun with her team, teaching players the game during after school practices and making sure they are ready to compete against the many tough teams on the schedule.
Costello-Roth is assisted by Ysrael Gonzalez. The duo puts Finley’s players through a variety of drills each day before staging an intrasquad scrimmage.
The roster includes seventh graders Kimberley Castillo Martos, Andie DiGioia, Leighton Evans, Aubrie Godin, Talia Hayden, Justina Hlenski, Madyn Kalb, Grace Kline, Erin Langton, Gabriella LoScalzo, Leah MacManus, Briana Maldonado Acosta, Ava McDonald, Carline Mitek, Norah Moskowitz, Leila O’Toole, Ashley Palma, Dakota Respass, Ariana Rubio, Audrey Sherwood and Kalissa Simon.
The team’s eighth graders include Julianna Ackerman, Ruby Baliber, Emma Boyle, Sage Cicciari, Sheily Corado Perez, Grayson Dunn, Wynne Franciscovich, Chelsea Gordon, Emma Gutierrez, Mildred Hernandez Veliz, Erika Hernandez Veliz, Ruby Hoffman, Daniela Ibarra, Emili Licona Banegas, Jesley Martinez Canales, Cecilena Monge Moreira, Anis Oyuela Herrara, Giselle Salmeron, Natalie Saravia Moreira and Genesis Sorto.
“It’s a really wonderful group of girls, complete with many different personalities,” Costello-Roth said. “The team is working hard and improving day by day. They are learning while having fun. The turnout was amazing.”
