Finley Girls' Soccer Struggles
No banner will be hung from the wall in the J. Taylor Finley Middle School gymnasium for last fall's Falcons' girls' soccer team, which finished the season with a record of 0-8-1. But, while the final mark might have fallen short of the squad's hopes, the campaign allowed the program to bring more than two dozen first year players into the fold.
"Our record in no way is an indication of the hard work and dedication the girls demonstrated this season," said head coach Linda Roth. "The returning eighth graders were instrumental in the growth evidenced by the seventh graders in their first interscholastic experience."
Finley's roster was filled with 41 players, including 27 who earned first year letter awards. The Falcons' losses came by 5-1, 1-0, 2-1, 3-1, 2-1, 2-1, 2-0 and 2-1 scores. The Falcons tied Elwood in the season-opener, 1-1.
While undefeated teams garner a gym banner, that's really not the purpose of the middle school athletic program, which is purely developmental in nature. In that regard, Finley's season was most definitely an award winning one with so many new faces on the field.
"The seventh graders worked hard each day and their efforts showed," said Roth, who was assisted by Huntington alum Kailene Abt. "Many had an increase in playing time over the course of the season. Even though [Hurricane] Sandy cut our season short, I am confident that we would have ended the season on a positive note."
Finley was captained by eighth graders Tara Wilson, Emma Petrizzi, Camille Stafford, Shannon Maloney and Amanda LoScalzo. The group provided strong leadership and set a good example for the younger players, who will be counted on to produce a winning record next fall.