Young athletes consistently face jumps in the level of competition throughout their careers. Whether it’s a jump in divisions in town league or making the transition to a travel team, be it club or AAU, they’re constantly forced to adjust on the fly.
But there may not be a bigger jump in competition than the one freshmen face in their first year of high school — especially those who get a shot at the varsity level early on and have to go against seniors right away. For incoming freshmen, the fall may be the toughest time to make the transition, as they try to adjust to the high school classroom workload.
Luckily for Old Rochester girls soccer players, they have an opportunity to make the process smoother thanks to the Mariner Youth Soccer League, which is back up and running.
“It’s really good that we’re just playing and are able to get just a little bit more experience, so we’re able to get a feel for the game again,” Mattapoisett native and incoming ORR freshman Macy Ingham said.
While Ingham and her fellow outside midfielder and incoming ORR freshman Sofia Bouley are getting used to playing with and against older girls, there’s also the matter of the long layoff they’ve had. The COVID-19 pandemic shut down sports across Massachusetts, and although Old Rochester girls soccer coach Jeff Lombard gave his players a routine to stay in shape the girls weren’t able to practice before Mariner Youth Soccer League kicked off its season.
“The first day I went back I was like, ‘Whoa, I’m out of shape,’” Bouley, a Rochester native, said. “But it’s getting better.
“(My touch) has been a little better than getting back into the physical part of (the game). I have been passing the ball around or just having it at my feet (throughout the stoppage).”
Now a few games into the summer-league season, the two freshmen are starting to find their rhythm. As their conditioning improves and they get more reps in against the tough competition, they’re learning what it takes to make an impact on the pitch at the next level.
“It’s hard to get back into the game, especially when you haven’t played in so long,” Ingham said. “But, after the second game, I think I finally got back into it.
“During the second game, I think I had a lot of good runs down the sideline, and one of them I got lucky and I was able to score a goal. Now I know that I can compete with all of them, and for 50-50 balls I have a chance to go get it.”
It also helps that both are receiving plenty of help and encouragement from their older, more experienced teammates.
“It was a little tricky (at first) because their playing style is a little different than what I’m used to, but it wasn’t too bad because everyone was still out of shape, too. Everyone kind of started in the same spot,” Bouley said of her older teammates. “The first game I played I was super nervous, but everyone on the team is super nice. They’ve been willing to help everyone try their best. They haven’t been discouraging to anyone if we mess up or anything. I’m really excited to play a real (high school) season with them.”
Now Bouley and Ingham await the decisions to be made by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) as the state’s high school sports governing body tries to navigate through the pandemic and rules set by the commonwealth’s government.
With Old Rochester planning to open the academic year by having students come in for classes two days per week and learn remotely on the other three, there is still reason for Bouley and Ingham to remain hopeful about their freshman soccer season.
Sports Roundup
By Nick Friar