Meet Our Captains

              

 Ashley Pagano #14 & Cassidy Clavet #18

Q: As Captain, what do you think your biggest responsibility is?

Pagano: I think making sure that our team chemistry is always being improved, on and off the field, and making sure we are doing things as a team.

Clavet: It would be to keep the team organized and focused on our goals for the fall. Keeping the chemistry within the team towards a common goal is very important.

Q: Have you ever been Captain before?

Pagano: Yes, for my high school soccer team.

Clavet: Yes, for my JV high school soccer team. I was one of the oldest ones so people really looked up to me.

Q: What’s your favorite color?

Pagano: Blue

Clavet: Purple

Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?

Pagano: I want to be a nurse. I have always liked helping people and I think it is not only a stable job but there are a lot of opportunities you can get from it.

Clavet: I want to do something with business, possibly a financial advisor because money interests me and I am very good with organization.  

Q: Who is your hero/ who motivates you?

Pagano: My dad is one of my hero’s. He is always working hard and shows that what you put into something is what you will get out of it. If you are going to put your time and effort into something you should do it the right way because you will only get better affects rather than taking the short way out.

Clavet: My mom is my biggest hero. She has been there since day one and she has really helped push my brother and me through a lot of things. Whether it is positive or negative she has been there for us and has been our greatest support system.

Q: What do you like to do in your off time?

Pagano: I like to work out and hangout with my friends because it is relaxing.

Clavet: I like watching Netflix, hanging out with friends and listening to music. Sleeping and taking a nap is always pretty high on the list.

Beartown

 Thank you to everyone that attended the Beartown Ski Fundraiser! It was a great support from the community and Plattsburgh State Women’s Soccer was able to raise $300 in profit. I know the cold was hard to bear (pun intended) but it was still a great time! For those who attended it was a blast with all the tubing and the hot chocolate, chili and s’mores by the fire, provided by Wiley. That made the weather conditions a little easier to tolerate.  

Also, we now have a new Facebook page! Come check it out with game film, fun facts, and team events!  https://www.facebook.com/psusoccer

The Cold Won’t Stop Us

It’s coming to that time of year when the cold wind feels like it is going to tear into your skin just from walking to class, but it’s also the time to make the gym a priority for our team. The spring season is coming and it’s the time to show off what you have been working on. This year we have a good majority of our team running in the Plattsburgh Half Marathon and Relay coming in April. To train for that we will be hitting up the treadmills and any chance we get outside to start training but that is exactly what soccer players are for, to be able to run at least a straight 90 minutes. Those who are not participating on the team will be handing out water and Gatorade with the men’s soccer team at the 4.8 mile mark and cheering on all of the runners.

 

 

We also will be hosting a fundraiser at Beartown Mountain where there will be skiing, snowboarding and tubing on February 16^th from 6-9pm. Unfortunately, there will not be rentals for the skis and snowboards, so bring your own! It will be a perfect way to spend a Sunday night and have fun with friends before a week of classes.

The spring season starts soon and we will be back at on the field to get the team chemistry flowing again. We don’t start until after March break so thankfully the weather might be a little warmer. As for now, we will start up team workouts that will carry into the spring and the summer to help make a successful season.

Our Seniors

           Four years being a student-athlete at the collegiate level can take a lot out of you and there are so many steps taken along the way. We have two seniors that will be leaving us this year to move onto the real world and wrap up their academic semesters. Emily LaLone and Lauren Gonyea have been with the program for all four years and have pushed themselves to help the team in every way. When speaking with them, both women seemed to have a bittersweet feeling of the end of the season. Since they went through these years together some of their answers were very similar. Having them both as our captains helped us when great minds think alike. They both will miss the feeling of being on the team and seeing all of their teammates everyday at practice, even under certain circumstances if they are tired or practice isn’t going well, they get to see their team which is like a family. Both women had a very successful freshman year that put them into the NCAA round. As they look back with nostalgia, this was their most memorable time as a Cardinal player, walking out onto that field and seeing the big Plattsburgh State sign. There were some differences in their answers, which makes them the two players that they are.

 

Q.What was going through your mind on senior game day?

Gonyea: That I would never play on that field again, it was really emotional. Especially since I’m from here I have played on that field for so long.

LaLone: Gonyea and I were both such a mess, we would just look at each other and start tearing up. It’s tough because it’s one of those things you watch everyone else go through and when it’s your turn it’s really hard.

 

Q. Is there anything you wish you could change about the season?

Gonyea: Mostly the outcome, I wish we could have gone farther.

LaLone: If I had to pick one thing I would say I wish we made it into SUNYACS.

 

Q. Is there anything you will not miss about soccer?

 Gonyea: Definitely early morning practices.

LaLone: Fitness, but also losing, that was tough.

 

Q. Would you have any inspiring words for next season’s team?

 Gonyea: Just leave it all on the field and give it all you got because it flies by so fast.

LaLone: Don’t let the same thing happen again, that should be your motivation. Remember how it feels when you get to the end of the season. As much as there are so many days when you would rather be doing anything else but practicing or you want to go out with friends when you can’t, just appreciate it while you are doing it because then it’s over.

 

Q. Why do you think the season resulted as it did?

 Gonyea: I think we did have a young team and we had all the players there but we didn’t have that extra oomph to score.

LaLone: You could look at it from a lot of different parts of our season, but we just didn’t get to the point where we were playing consistently for a whole game. It’s not like we weren’t scoring. We would score but then the other team would score like two goals in five minutes.

 

Q. As a senior, what advice would you give to incoming freshmen next year?

Gonyea: Work hard for your teammates because you are not just playing for yourself, you are playing for everyone out there.

LaLone: Appreciate every part of it, living with your teammates, doing everything with the team. Although preseason sucks, there is the hike and going to Wiley’s but appreciate it while you are doing it and work hard. Don’t be lazy because you don’t want to look back and think of what you could have done better.

 

Q. Do you have any regrets?

Gonyea: I don’t really think so, it’s hard to say because I left pretty happy.

LaLone: I don’t know if it is regret, but I just hope I was a good captain and leader when you look back because it was hard. With my internship, I felt like a zombie when I came to soccer during the week.

Coming to an End

 

              It was a long weekend of emotions. The last games of the season were winding down with the necessity to win both SUNYAC games and senior game making it bittersweet. Unfortunately we lost 1-0 to Brockport which made the game against Fredonia just another game. It was senior game, posters were made, balloons were blowing in the wind, and our mere two seniors had the game day to themselves. Emily LaLone and Lauren Gonyea are not only our seniors but they are also the captains of our team and the leaders. Through the three years I have played with them it has been great and they have always been people I could go to if I needed. It was a chilly day and everyone was bundled up on the sideline. It was tough not being able to get the win for the seniors since they deserved it but it was a good game and we stayed in it. We had the treat of two of our own to sing the national anthem. On Friday Assistant Coach Shay Gestal sang and Hannah Saccocio sang for us Saturday and they were both fantastic.

Even meditating the practice before did not get us the win so it seems these past two seasons that entering our spiritual side (Buddha) has not really done the trick.

 

                A special thanks to all the parents that attended the “tailgating” after the game and to those who brought any food that is much appreciated. It was nice to see everyone come to together one last time before the end of the season. Celebrating with the massive cake it seemed impossible for everyone to eat after they had stuffed themselves with tacos and cookies. Thank you to Mr.  & Mrs. LaLone and Mr. & Mrs. Gonyea for helping to set everything up and for everything you have done for us this season and past seasons. We will especially miss the coconut bars Mrs. LaLone is famous for because those are delicious.

                We traveled to Vermont yesterday to play Norwich who had a short bench. The game resulted in an 11-0 win and everyone got their fair share of playing time as it was our last time playing together for the season and the last bus ride. Cammey Keyser could not get over the chicken club sandwich she had ordered on the way home; according to her “it was the best on the planet.” It was tough not making it into playoffs because every year that is one of our goals. These next couple of days at the end of the season will feel weird not having to go to practice and be ready to play in games. There will be time to relax, do homework, and rest up after a long season. With finals week right around the corner there will be plenty of time for studying, not that anyone would want that over a game of soccer.

Fear has Two Meanings

It was a tough weekend for us with an eight hour bus ride all the way down to Buffalo State. We played to their level and showed them that we came to play. We managed to tie it up with five minutes left in the game with a goal from Diana DiCocco. We had momentum but they got a lucky goal from a free kick that we just could not keep out. After such a good game against Buffalo we hoped to bring that level of play to the Fredonia game who was lower in the ladder of conference play. We did not play to our full potential and after getting down 2-1 we just could not come back. It was hard to see our team with their heads down after the game knowing we could have beat them but it just means we have to hit that much harder this coming weekend with our last home games of the season. These two games are crucial and we must win them both if we want any shot of being able to get into playoffs. There is nothing we want more than to see our seniors and captains, Emily LaLone and Lauren Gonyea to finish their last year strong. As we huddled in the locker room before the Fredonia game I won't forget what Em LaLone said, "Fear means two things either Forget everything and run or Face everything and rise," that is a quote that we are challenging this past weekend and again we must do this weekend and I know we can face it.

 

We had an adventure on our long bus ride allowing us to watch a total of six movies even after having to wait in the beginning of the trip. I must say that Princess and the Frog was my favorite. Assistant Coach Pat Shaughnessy had a “birthday” surprise when we went to Joey’s in Syracuse for dinner Friday night. The chocolate mousse slice of pie had everyone’s mouth watering and I was sure to get a bite.

 

We were back on the bus and everyone seemed to fall asleep after a nice dinner and we got to the hotel quick where we were welcomed to the Double Tree by Hilton with a warm delicious cookie.

 

 

 

 With the long bus rides we always do a pre warm up routine led by Shay so we can get rid of our bus legs. Saturday morning we did something a little different and it seemed to have everyone relaxed but it’s hard to tell if it actually helped us before the game. Pat was able to get a nice picture from his room of our visualization tactics but some may say we looked like dead bodies, or like we are taking a nap. If you look closely you can get a good look at all of our white shins from the soccer tan or lack thereof.

  
 

Of course there is nothing like a little dancing by Wiley to get us laughing and energetic before a game as she lip syncs to her music. Notice the flexibility and strength she still has as she hangs from the top of the bus!

 

Although it was a long bus ride it was worth it to be with a team like this. We had a good time but it could have been a whole lot better if we could have come out with two wins. That is something that we can work on to change for this weekend.

Some of the players were caught sleeping! Each with their own blanket and pillow to keep them comfy, everyone has a preference!

 Our lovely Captain Emily LaLone in her Steelers Blanket

 Charisse Abellard with a quick pregame nap

 

 Ashley Pagano getting real comfortable

 

 Maddie Rattray gets up close and personal with her stuffed animals (Photo Credit to Pat)

 Ashlie Guinness I dont think that looks very comfortable

 And of course coaches need their sleep too, the one and only Pat Shaughnessy

 

 

Long Bus Rides and interesting Coaches

There was no better feeling that beating rivals Oneonta this weekend. Although it is considered a tie, since penalties kicks do not count until playoffs, it almost felt like a win. Kristy Kirkpatrick had a beautiful save in the penalty kicks that allowed us to take advantage. Megan Colby, who was in a splint from breaking her arm during the game stepped up and scored one of the penalty kicks and proved that she came to play. That energy boosted us into a win versus New Paltz with freshmen Vicky Scott and Heather Marko stepping up and netting a goal each and Cammey Keyser starting the series of goals. This was a good weekend for us because it showed that we can step up to the plate and play Plattsburgh soccer.

With that behind us we had two practices within 12 hours of each other after a long weekend, a late Tuesday practice and a nice 6:30am practice Wednesday under the lights as the sun was slowly rising. This upcoming weekend will be a long one with a trip that is at least eight hours all the way up to Buffalo State and Fredonia. It is an important weekend to keep up the tone of play and make sure we play our soccer and come out successful again. We are ready with all types of movies, games, homework and especially blankets and pillows to pass time napping on the long trip. Hopefully we will get some cute pictures while people sleep because eventually everyone finds a comfortable position to fall asleep in.

Meet the Assistant Coach

Although it is midway through the season, I have failed to give a little something about our new assistant coach. As we were sad to hear the B Mikes had to leave us, we welcomed Shay Gestal to the coaching staff and wish her good luck as she has to deal with 26 women and we all know that can be a little hard. Coming from Craftsbury, Vermont, Shay has let us in on a few interesting facts about herself such as the fact that she does not like to wear shoes. During our traditional mountain hike she roughed it up the mountain with her bare feet explaining that she never wears shoes and it is just easier for her. She is also a vegan who will cook meat and be around it but she just will not eat it, which is interesting since it must be hard to cook it when you don’t know the taste all that well. Growing up in Craftsbury is much different than Plattsburgh given the fact that it has about two stop signs, no internet and not much cell phone range. Gestal couldn’t be more proud of her small town and she loves everything about it. “I knew I wanted to be a coach once I figured out I wasn’t going to go pro,” said Gestal as Wiley sits next to me laughing at the answer. Shay is learning to deal with us and although we moan and groan when it comes to having to warm up and do exercises that help to prevent ACL injury we know it is beneficial in the long run. Shay thinks Plattsburgh is a great stepping stone to one day fulfilling her dream as a head coach at the collegiate level. “The opportunity is awesome and everyone in Plattsburgh is just so nice and lovely, I am happy to be working with the Waterbury’s since they have had so much experience and success,” she said.

 

P.S. This picture explains last weekend so well and the same thing is going to happen this coming weekend also. We all know what it means and if you're not having a good time now, I hope it gets the fire going!