AUGUST 27, 2021, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A15
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McNary looking for bounce-back season on the pitch
SPORTS
McNary forward Sydnee Alfano battles for position in a game from last season. Alfano was the leading scorer for McNary last year and one of the top returners in the MVC.
BY MATT RAWLINGS
during the shortened spring season,
Of the Keizertimes
fi nishing with a 2-9-1 record and going
As she prepares for her second year winless in league play. But Brouse
at the helm of the McNary girls soccer believes that the struggles from last
program, head coach Lauren Brouse season have made her squad more
couldn't contain her excitement when battle-tested.
talking about the
potential of the
2021 season.
Our returners went
“It feels really
through some of those
good to be out here.
It actually feels
frustrating losses
like my fi rst season
and experienced that
because things are
more normal and
hearbreak, but they know
it's the time of year
what they need to do to
that we usually
play,” Brouse said.
fi x some of the things
“I feel way more
that happened last year.
excited about this
year than last
year.”
With
an
infl ux of youth,
McNary girls soccer head coach
the Celtics went
through some
growing pains
— LAUREN BROUSE
“Our returners went through some
of those frustrating losses and experi-
enced that heartbreak, but they know
what they need to do to fi x some of the
things that happened last year,” Brouse
said. “Some of the JV girls we called up
got a ton of playing time on the fi eld
last year, we swung a lot of them up,
so I just feel like we have a lot more
under our belt and we are a little more
prepared.”
The Celtics return a multitude of
players from last season's team, none
more important than juniors Tessa
Fisher and Sydnee Alfano — both are
entering their third season on the var-
sity roster.
Fisher was a fi rst-team all-league
midfi elder last season with four goals
and an assist and Alfano earned sec-
ond-team honors as a forward after
leading the Celtics in scoring with
seven goals and one assist.
Brouse expects Fisher and Alfano
to be team leaders for the Celtics this
season, but has also encouraged them
to be more aggressive in goal-scoring
FILE PHOTO, Keizertimes
S ccer
opportunities.
“I expect them to take leadership
roles. I want them to work together
and have Tessa looking for Sydney on
through balls. But I also want them to
be a little more selfi sh up there. They
do look to pass a lot, but I want them to
take more opportunities to be aggres-
sive,” Brouse said. “I think they are
both a little more confi dent to go do
that now with both being juniors. They
know that eyes are on them and that
teams know them, but I think they are
ready for that challenge.”
Sophomore Maya Alston is another
returning midfi elder that is expected to
See GSOC, page A21