IAC GIRLS SOCCER: WAVERLY'S HOGAN EXCITED ABOUT START OF 2019 PRESEASON (12 PHOTOS) (2019-08-21)
By TIM BIRNEYValley Sports ReportWAVERLY "” Waverly girls soccer coach Tara Hogan is excited about the start of the 2019 preseason, and a strong core of experienced players returning.
"I'm always excited to get back on the field. I always look forward to the start of a new season.
"You never know what you're going to get the first day," said Hogan. "For example, we had 25 kids signed up for this season, and had 16 show up (Monday). Today, we're down to 15."
One of the 15 is three-year starter Cora Smith, who is a rising star on the track & field scene and nearly elected to run cross country this fall.
"She was thinking about (cross country) for the right reasons," said Hogan. "She's a track superstar. How could you not think about doing something you're naturally good at, and enjoy doing?
"She's looking at running in college, and has some good opportunities," noted Hogan. "I understand why she was conflicted.
"Losing her would have been awful, it would have meant our entire defense, and sweeper from last year was gone," added Hogan. "She is my defensive saving grace."
Another of the 15 is highly-touted freshman Kennedy Westbrook, who is transferring in from Athens.
"So far, from what I've seen, she's what people told me she was," said Hogan. "She is meshing really well with the team ... a lot of the girls already know because they've played with her on club teams.
"It was a nice little gift from the universe, especially considering where we're at with our numbers," she added.
With just a few subs available, Hogan knows her team needs to be in peak physical form.
"Conditioning, conditioning, conditioning. We return a solid core that has a lot of experience, and they're ready to go.
"We had five seniors graduate, that's a lot gaps to fill," said Hogan. "I will be asking several (inexperienced) players to step up and play a lot more. I know a lot of them want to, but whether they're physically ready to is another story.
"Conditioning is always a main priority, especially the first week," she noted. "We have a Cross-Fit workout with (Waverly boys coach) Eric Ryck next week ... we try to mix it up.
"We start with drills on drills on drills, and then as week goes on we focus on training," added Hogan.
Waverly will scrimmage at the BondFest Wednesday in Trumansburg, and will open the regular season Sept. 3 at Groton.
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IN PHOTO 1: Waverly's Melina Ortiz. ... PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.
