Finley Girls’ Soccer-White Plays Hearts Out

The J. Taylor Finley Middle School girls’ soccer “white” team played its collective heart out this past fall. The 17 player squad was captained by Brianna Zavala Reyes, Annabel Stein, Annie Lopez Berrios and Mackenzie Conklin.

Finley Spanish teacher Alicia Furman coached the team. She was a high school and college soccer star and she’s determined to build a winning program at Finley. The school’s colors are white and blue, so one team was designated “white” and the other “blue” similar to schools throughout Section XI.

Finley’s roster included seventh graders Amiyah Herring, Camila Luna Mancia, Kristy Moreira, Jeiry Rodriguez Guzman, Savanna Sturges and Gabriella Zielinski and eighth graders Mikyla-Racquel Blizzard, Mackenzie Conklin, Dana Gonzales Ramirez, Annie Lopez Berrios, Danna Lopez Gomez, Arlene Maldonado Licona, Allison Marroquin, Nicole Orrego Salinas, Annabel Stein, Isabella Ulloa and Brianna Zavala Reyes.

“Jeiry Rodriguez Guzman started as our goalie with good hands, but wasn’t able to finish the season, so our midfielder Gabriella Zielinski settled in the position very well as a first year goalie,” Furman said. “Gabriella saved a penalty kick during one game. We also scored on a penalty kick. The team was grateful that we would always end our practices with the ‘goal and go home” drill, where every player has to take a penalty kick. Once they score, they can go home.”

Stein tied for a team high three goals. “We used her dribbling skills to take a powerful left footed shot from 18 yards to score goals,” Furman said. “Amiyah [Herring] had two goals by making a run forward from the defensive position with great speed.”

Other players got into the scoring act, too. “Nicole Orrego Salinas used her speed to kick the ball past the keeper and Allison Marroquin scored a goal on a powerful shot high above the goalkeeper in the last game.”

Blizzard also scored three goals. “Mikyla led the team with her speed and finesse with her ball skills to dribble past defenders,” Furman said.

Finley overcame injuries during the season and backups stepped up. “Overall, the skill level was far superior as we had about five very skilled eighth grade players.”

Furman is looking ahead to next fall. “Our goal is to continue to build up and improve the skills of all players so they will want to continue to play on the JV and varsity to help develop our Huntington girls’ soccer program.”