The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Comets among top teams in state
Even with all their success, Coach Gary Gonzalez thinks Amherst needs a stronger defense
Amherst coach Gary Gonzalez understands the type of dedication his Comets have displayed this season.
“I’ve worked more on my foot skills. Freshman and sophomore year, I used my speed a lot. But I’ve started to develop my foot skills because at the next level you’re going to need that.” – Junior Alexis Alston
Amherst coach Gary Gonzalez understands the type of dedication his Comets have displayed this season.
That dedication is paying off, as the Comets boast one of the top teams in the Greater Cleveland area with a 7-1-1 (5-0-1) record.
With its aggressive combination play offensively, its sound defensive third and goalkeeper Ainsley Steele’s six shutouts, the Comets are as well-rounded as anyone.
But Gonzalez, like any coach, isn’t satisfied.
“We have to be stronger in the back,” he said after a 3-1 win over Avon Lake on Sept. 19. “We get in trouble when we let that ball bounce around the 18 and bad things happen in there.”
Amherst has outscored its opponents, 26-4, and junior Alexis Alston has been the rock in the middle offensively.
Alston leads with 11 goals and five assists, and has dealt with every defense man-marking her.
Alston erupted onto the scene as a freshman scoring five goals in a game, and she’s trended upward since then.
The passion for soccer is clear. Alston played on her club soccer team, Cleveland Soccer Academy, the same morning she finished
seventh in the Division I state track meet in the 400m, 18th in the 4x200 and seventh in the 4x400 this past June.
“I’ve worked more on my foot skills,” Alston said. “Freshman year and sophomore year, I used my speed a lot. But I’ve started to develop my foot skills because at the next level you’re going to need that.”
Freshman Elley Vorhees, who scored a goal against the Shoregals, is on the same club team as Alston and is the Comets’ second leading points getter (12).
“The combinations at the top have led me to goals,” Vorhees said. “And this, more than my club team, they play me the ball and I’ve been having a lot of success because I’ve been able to be in spots and finish.”
Amherst tied Olmsted
Falls two weeks ago, and is tied atop the SWC with the Bulldogs. At this point, it isn’t clear-cut who the better team is. Olmsted Falls is ranked No. 4 in the Greater Cleveland Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association poll, and the Comets one spot behind them. In the Morning Journal Top of the Crop, the Bulldogs are No. 1 and the Comets No. 3.
After losing to the Comets, Avon Lake coach Daegan Duvall was impressed.
“I think they’re the best team I’ve seen this year,” Duvall said. “They play with super purpose and their players deceptive enough. They’ve got sound touch and are a tough side. They’re going to do very well.”
It’s a safe bet he’s not the only one with these sentiments.