Hutton ready for more
Middle school standout still a force to be reckoned with as a high school freshman
It is hardly an outlandish statement to say Claire Hutton is the most accomplished scholastic soccer player — male or female — currently in Section II. During the fall, however, Hutton registered zero goals and zero assists.
Hutton is not a goalie or a defender. What kept the Bethlehem freshman star scoreless is that her school, along with Ballston Spa, opted out of competing during the fall soccer season in the Suburban Council over concerns regarding the coronavirus pandemic. The Eagles and Scotties are both competing in Fall Season II and are being allowed to compete against a Foothills Council schedule.
Bethlehem is set to take on South Glens Falls Wednesday afternoon in its season opener at Afrim’s in Colonie.
“There was a lot of frustration seeing it was only us and Ballston Spa not playing,” Hutton said. “It kind of seemed unfair. I know the other teams did not get sectionals, but they get a council finals (tournament).”
“We are very thankful for the Foothills Council for allowing us to play. Schalmont has also agreed to play against us,” Bethlehem coach Tom Rogan said. “It is great to have those games. Without them, we would get together and practice but would have no games. On Wednesday, our girls get to put their uniforms on, get on a bus, play music and drive over to a field and
warm up and play.”
Before she had entered high school, Hutton already had produced a varsity career few can match. A two-time Times Union Large School first team selection, Hutton earned Player of the Year honors as an eighth-grader when she tallied 37 goals and added 18 assists to help Bethlehem capture its second straight Section II Class AA title in 2019.
“In the moment, it did not phase me. It sort of felt normal and I didn’t feel much younger than everyone else,” Hutton said. “Looking back, it is a little more eye-opening now.”
Helping the Eagles advance to the Class AA state final as a seventh-grader, Hutton registered 11 goals and 12 assists as a midfielder during her first varsity campaign.
As she has prepared for her third varsity season with the Eagles, Hutton has grown two inches and now stands 5-foot-6. The freshman has also begun to work in the weight room.
“She is much bigger and more solid,” Rogan said. “Her strikes are very quick and much more powerful than they were before. She
is a more powerful soccer player than she was before. She still has all the finesse, skill and touch. She is very cheeky on the ball.”
Hutton’s instincts on the pitch are already next level. Missing out on the chance to play with her premier soccer team during the pandemic and being unable to earn a berth on her agelevel national team or
spend time in the Olympic Development program has stoked the fire in the freshman to find alternate ways to improve herself. She even took time to mentor younger players and also found ways to enhance her already prodigious skills.
“I have definitely been working on different types of finishing moves and taking over the game in different ways, verbally along with on the ball,” Hutton said. “I am trying to master more skills and fundamentally bringing it all together, sort of sharpening what I already know and adding in extra things other players don’t have.”
“She is pretty focused and intense all of the time,” Rogan said. “Ironically, she was injured in the fall. She had to spend a lot of time not training on her feet. She spent a lot of time swimming in her pool. It was disappointing to her and the rest of the team having fall taken away. I know they are all excited to be out there together again and playing. It is a very intense group.”
Bethlehem has a roster featuring six seniors that have already committed to play college soccer. Hutton will miss a few games, including Wednesday’s opener, as she will be competing with her World Class FC club squad. The freshman is grateful for the opportunity to once again compete with the Eagles.
“It is very exciting, especially seeing players coming up and figuring out what I can do with other players,” Hutton said.