They say injuries are a part of the game, and Marblehead’s girls soccer team has faced more than its fair share of them this fall.
Dealing with two season-ending injuries, the Magicians aren’t making any excuses as they continue to battle each and every game. They currently stand at 7-3-4.
Last year, Sadie Halpern was the team’s leading goal-scorer with 15 goals. She is now sidelined with an ACL injury. This season, Ainsley McDonald was one of the top defenders in the Northeastern Conference and is out for the season with an ACL injury, which occurred against Peabody earlier this month.
“The season, so far, has been pretty injury-plagued. Our striker, Sadie Halpern, tore her ACL and our best center back, Ainsley McDonald, also suffered a torn ACL,” said coach Lisa Wales. “Before that, Sydney Ball was out four games with a concussion. We’ve had two other players miss time with concussions, too. We had to deal with two sprained ankles and one girl started the season coming off a quad tear. We definitely have been hit hard with injuries, but every time we asked the girls to step up when a girl was out, they did. I couldn’t ask more from them.”
Despite dealing with all of these injuries, the Magicians continue to prove they are one of the toughest teams to beat. That’s because players are constantly stepping up and performing at a high level.
One player who has stepped up her game is Callie Gilmore. The sophomore midfielder is the team’s leading goal-scorer with 10 thus far. She’s also dished out three assists.
“I can’t express how complete of a player Callie Gilmore is. She’s so smart, she anticipates the play well, and has a cannon of a shot. She’s hungry for goals and is selfish in front of the net when she has to be. She is someone you want in your foxhole,” Wales said. “Sometimes, we put her up as a striker even though she’s an incredible midfielder. She’s just a sophomore and was able to step into a starting role with no problem.”
To fill the void left by McDonald, Wales decided to put Ball on defense, as she’s one of the more versatile players on the roster.
“We moved Sydney Ball back to center back. She’s so good; she can probably play any position. She is incredibly important to our team and is a great leader. She’s physical, but also technically sound. Losing Ainsley was a huge blow, but we asked Sydney to fill in and she’s done a great job for us,” Wales said.
Youth is definitely on Marblehead’s side with plenty of underclassmen getting minutes on the field. Center defensive midfielder Lucy McDonald has showcased her understanding of the game, according to Wales, and has become a crucial part of the team.
“As a freshman, she’s a physical and tough player. If you get by her, you’re really going to have to earn it. She knows exactly when to tackle and she can score,” Wales said. “In our win against Beverly, her goal was with the outside of her foot. That takes an incredible amount of talent.”
In addition to youth, the team boasts some experience. Captains Sophie Robinson and Ava Machado were praised by Wales for their leadership.
“They’ve done a terrific job. I’ve been working with them mainly from this past spring and throughout the summer. They’ve done a great job of representing the team well and setting the tone,” Wales said. “They know when to come to me with something, but know when they need to handle stuff on their own. We work well together and instinctively, the two of them have great leadership skills. They’ve done a great job and it shows. I’m really proud of how they’ve handled themselves and dealt with the adversity we’ve faced.”
The Magicians have four games remaining and, as of Tuesday morning’s MIAA power rankings, land at No. 8 in Division 2.
Although it’s missing key pieces, Marblehead continues to prove the doubters wrong and is looking to finish the regular season strong in hopes of clinching home turf during the postseason.
