Clarke girls’ soccer coach Becky Mattia believes close games keep players sharp. In this sense, she could not have asked for a better start. Through six games, the Rams have not won or lost by more than two goals, proving competitive against every team in a stout Conference 4.
“We don't want to be blowing anybody out and we don't want to be getting killed ourselves,” Mattia said. “So they're really competitive, which is nice. The benefit, down the road, playoff-wise, you're playing in competitive games and close games. So by the time playoffs come, you're ready to go.”
With a 2-1-3 record, Clarke’s start has been more inconclusive than anything, as draws against Great Neck South, Glen Cove and Hewlett were all strong efforts that went unrewarded in the win column. That being said, the Rams still managed to send a message against several contenders in those games, and a close 2-1 defeat to conference leader Jericho has earned them a reputation as a consistently tough beat.
Clarke has thrived in large part because of freshman Allison DeLuca, who has been an all-important contributor on offense. The center-midfielder has 9 goals and has scored in every game so far, often singlehandedly making the difference in key victories and draws.
“She’s unbelievable,” Mattia said. “She's just a smart, technical, really good player. Has a good shot. You know, she's just a really good kid and she’s young.”
Alexa Maia is one of several players who has managed to support DeLuca well on the attack and is currently Clarke’s second highest scorer with two goals. Her most recent strike made the difference in a 4-3 victory over Great Neck North on Sept. 17, a game in which DeLuca scored a hat trick.
Mattia has not been afraid to challenge some of her key players in different roles. They may not be serving the purpose they originally considered for themselves, but many of these girls are the most important in Clarke’s current system.
Sophomore Sian Newman is arguably the most versatile player on the roster and has proven capable at multiple positions. She scored a goal in a 3-1 victory over Hicksville on Sept. 9, and can also fill on defense as needed.
Senior Isabella Torres started out as a forward and is now one of Clarke’s most important defenders. She plays in front of goalkeeper Roxanna David, who was originally a field player before stepping up and learning a new position on the fly last year. Her promotion to the position snapped a streak of nearly 10 years with a trained goalkeeper for Clarke, but Mattia said that she has performed admirably and kept the Rams in several close games.
The key to Clarke’s gritty reputation in Conference 4 seems to be its players’ collective ability to perform in a given role.
The Rams begin the second half of the schedule this Thursday at Hicksville at 5 p.m.