In the previous 8 years before Ricky Nerone took over the reins at Berkshire, the school’s varsity girls soccer program only had 27 wins combined. In the three seasons since his staff has been there they have won 31 games, and counting.
Once again, this season, they have shattered the single season win record total as they have gotten off to a 12-0 start while scoring the most goals in school history with 67 in 12 games.
They have also been stout on defense while allowing the least amount of goals in school history by far with only 9. They are on pace to break the 100 mark in goals scored, and keep the opponents under 15 for the season, all this alongside the CVC title.
With the win Wednesday at Lordstown, the Badgers set the school record for wins with 11 (the previous record of 10 was set last fall). Sophomore Lexi Boyk had a hat trick for the Badgers. Assists where from Senior Captain Jill Landrus, and Freshman Allie Barcikoski. Senior Cat Lillibridge wasn’t tested much in goal, recording just 2 saves.
Saturday (yesterday) the Badgers improved to 12-0 with a 9-1 win over Garfield. Sophomore Clara Agawa recorded her first career hat trick and added an assist. Freshman Allie Barcikoski also contributed two goals and had a hat trick of assists with three.
Sophomore Lexi Boyk added two goals as well. Junior Julia Frank added a goal and two assists. Rounding out the scoring was Freshman Lexi Byler. Sophomore Meghan Filby and Senior Captain Asya Martin also contributed an assist.
Senior goal keeper Cat Lillibridge had a clean sheet in the first half recording two saves in minimal action. Cat, and the elite Badger starting defense has only allowed a remarkable 4 goals in the 850 minutes they have played together this season in 12 games.
“This is something we have been working towards from the moment I got here a little over two years ago” said third year Head Coach Rick Nerone. “It’s not a coincidence that with the great Senior leadership we have, combined with the very skilled Freshman and Sophomores, that we would have a special year. I knew in the offseason, when we had basically every incoming Freshman playing club soccer year-round, along with a few current Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors, that we were in for a special season.”
Nerone continues, “Playing soccer year-round is the key to our success here; I have been preaching that since I started here on day 1. We’ve always had very skilled athletes here, but there is only so much progress they can make playing three months a year, and luckily a lot of the younger girl’s parents and players have bought into that philosophy. We have a few Seniors that are trying to play in college. We also have tons of Freshman and Sophomores as well as our lone Junior who can play at a high level in college if they keep playing club soccer in the winter and spring.”
More from Nerone, “Our starting defense, along with Cat in the net, have had some jaw dropping stats this year. Unfortunately, when we have subbed them out with big leads, we have given up a few last-minute goals. The Badgers have only allowed 9 goals in 12 games with the starters only allowing 4 in 850 minutes throughout those 12 games [while they have been on the pitch.]
Sophomore Lexi Boyk is 7th in the State in goals, with 23 goals. Freshman Allie Bbarcikoski is 9th in the State dishing out 13 assists. Senior goal keeper Cat Lillibridge has 4 shutouts this year, bringing her Berkshire record of shutouts to 18; That’s amazing considering she didn’t really start playing Goalie until her Sophomore season. This is also a testament to the defense as a whole!
It shows a lot about Lexi and Allie that they are so high up in the State ranking for goals and assists. First of all, that’s for all 3 divisions, just not D3. Secondly, we are talking about a Freshman and Sophomore. That’s truly remarkable. Those two are going to have extremely special careers, and have a chance to play D1 soccer- if they keep playing year-round.
But we are so much more than a few girls. I tell them all the time, I can start 19/20 girls and feel comfortable we will get the W. We are an extremely deep and talented team. We have 6/7 girls offensively who can hurt the other team, we also have 6/7 girls who I can start on D and lock down opposing forwards. It’s truly a whole team effort.”
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