The score of Saturday morning’s game between the Amsterdam girls modified soccer team and Scotia-Glenville may have appeared to most as a bit lop sided, but the future of the Lady Rams soccer program have been making strides since last season. After all, the 20 players on this year’s squad were challenging one of the top soccer programs in the Foothills Council, one whose varsity team is currently undefeated. The young Amsterdam team has been showing plenty of improvement.
“We’re ten times better than we were in the beginning,” said Amsterdam coach Terry Denney, who is in his first year leading the modified team. “They’ve come a long way since the start of the season.”
Amsterdam was battling a talented Scotia-Glenville team without four of their team leaders, eighth graders including Jarey Marie Aponte, but the team stayed tough throughout a cold Saturday morning contest at the Lynch Literacy Academy soccer field.
Scotia-Glenville won the game 9-0 getting three goals from Annika Neilsen, and two from Emma Roylance. Anna Marie Piccarillo, Taylor Boniecki, Gabby Tallman, and Kaitlyn Adis each added a goal. Piccarillo had three assists. All three of Neilsen’s goals came in the first half as the young Lady Tartans led 5-0 at the half. Emma Feihofer, Saddie Chappin, Gillian Racine, and Tallman posted the shutout in-goal.
Amsterdam’s Nicole Tepan and Karen Troche faced 26 shots in-goal for Amsterdam. The pair teamed up to make 12 saves.
“We’ve got a good group of kids,” Coach Denney said. “They’re learning the skills it takes to play the game. They’re getting there.”
The 2015 Amsterdam girls modified team includes; eighth graders; Azia Aldi, Jarey Marie Aponte, Emily Brittain, Grace Clark, Breahna Colon, Astrid Dimas, Shanna Foster, Brianna Jones, Rory McNamara, Davey Lynn Mora, Alexis Smith, Nicole Tepan. Seventh graders Daysia Adorno, Jamie Corcoran, Rebecca Kaminski, Alinah Marinov, Alyssa Mosher, Luzmari Torres-Fuentes, Karen Troche, and Ca’aliyah White.
Amsterdam has four games remaining against Foothills Council rivals including a home game on Friday against Johnstown at Lynch Literacy Academy. Game time is 4:30pm.
