Change isn’t necessarily a bad thing . . .
Take the Patrick Henry girls’ soccer team for example. The Patriots’ 2009 season went about as well as is possible, culminating in a Western Valley District title and a 12-4 record.
The offseason, however, was hectic to say the least. The girls lost several starters to graduation, and also lost their coach, rendering the 2010 season as a complete rebuilding job.
In the long run, however, all of the upheaval may end up being a huge positive for the program. Just a few months ago, the school was able to lure Carrie O’Keeffe back to Patrick Henry to coach the girls.
O’Keeffe, a PH alum, is currently the Head Coach at Hollins University, and had an impressive playing career that is sure to command her players respect. An All-CAA selection in all four of her seasons at William and Mary, O’Keeffe also played professionally in the now defunct WUSA for three seasons with the Washington Freedom, where her teammates included U.S. National Team stars Mia Hamm and Abby Wambach.
In her first season at the helm, O’Keeffe inherits a young roster with only one senior (center midfielder Emily Davis), meaning she has the chance to build a program from the ground up.
“We graduated some pretty talented players last year and so we have a really young team,” O’Keeffe said. “On the other hand, these girls have the opportunity to play together and improve together for several years.”
The younger players aren’t bad, either. Many of the girls play club soccer for the Roanoke Star or Valley AFC. In fact, a freshman (Trisha Jessee) leads the team in goals with 13 in her first five games.
“A lot of them have a good skill level and are very mature and willing to learn,” O’Keeffe said. “For them, it’s just learning how to play together and developing some chemistry. We’ve talked a lot about how we want to play and incorporating a style of play that suits us.”
Through five games, the Patriots are 4-1, and interestingly, have yet to play a competitive game. They’ve shut out Pulaski 6-0, and Martinsville 6-0, and lost to Blacksburg by a score of 8-0.
“It’s definitely been strange,” O’Keeffe said. “We’re just using any game situations as learning experiences.”
With a young team, and a new coach, it’s difficult to come up with some type of expectations. So O’Keeffe and the Patriots have aimed high – while also trying to remain realistic.
“At the beginning of the season, we said that a goal would be to win the district, and I don’t think that’s way out of the question at this point,” O’Keeffe said. “At the same time, I’d like for us to be a better team at the end of the season than we are now. I’d like for us to just get better day by day.”
By Matt Reeve [email protected]