Clarke embracing fresh start

Progress. That’s what the Clarke girls’ soccer team is looking for this fall.

Sure enough in her 19th year as coach, Becky Wachsberger has already seen tons of it. After going winless in conference play a season ago, the Rams started this season 2-0, scoring 11 combined goals while allowing none in those two wins.

“We were in a hard conference last year,” Wachsberger said. “We learned a lot and have already seen improvements.”

Clarke’s two captains are Alessandra Condoleo and Chaeeum Kim. An example of the improvement shown so far is the play of Condoleo, who already found the back of the net twice. As for Kim, her versatility is quite valuable. “She can play multiple positions and is so quick,” Wachsberger said of Kim. “She is such a harder worker and a great leader.” Both Kim and Condoleo are. “I want the other players to go to my captains before they come to me.”

Another important senior, on what is a youthful roster, is Isabella Romano. “She’s a great defender who also works her butt off,” Wachsberger said. “It’s been great to see her take that next step in developing her game.”

As for the younger players, Isabella Torres is an excellent example of someone who could help the Rams be better than last season. “Talk about someone that plays like a bull,” Wachsberger said. “There’s zero fear in her when she’s out there doing a really nice job for us.”

Leading the way on offense has been none other than Allison DeLuca. She scored 5 times in the first two Conference A/B2 games. It is safe to say that in Clarke’s 8-0 win over Valley Stream North Sept. 4 and 3-0 win over Valley Stream South Sept. 7, DeLuca played a pivotal role in the success.

Wachsberger’s squad even has an eighth grader who has been making big contributions. “Alexa Maia is another player that can do it all,” Wachsberger said. “She plays more in the back but even she has found the back of the net this season.”

Alongside all these great players, a team is nothing without stellar goalkeeping and that is exactly what Clarke has gotten to begin its season. Not one but two shutouts for Roxanna David, a junior who’s holding the fort down.

Wachsberger is hoping the early September results is the start of something really special, not just this year, but in future seasons too. “We’re a younger group this year,” she said. “I have a feeling we have the potential to be good for a very long time.”

Wachsberger has been doing this for a while. But things are not how they used to be. “I’m not nearly as hard on them as I used to be,” she said. “When I had kids of my own, I became a little softer but I still make sure to hold them accountable with the same goal in mind that I had nearly 20 years ago.”

The Rams host Lawrence and Oyster Bay this week.