Lady Dragons stay patient through growing pains
Clinton senior midfielder Topanga Easterday controls the ball and looks to create an opening for the Lady Dragons. Coach Anna Orr said Easterday’s athleticism and ability to find gaps in the defense help set the standard for Clinton’s young soccer squad. (photo:Tony Cox )
“The girls are coming along, they’re putting in the work; I’m proud of the effort,” CHS Coach Anna Orr said. “It’s just one of those things where as soon as it clicks, they’re going to be great — but we’re having a hard time connecting the dots thus far.”
As for some of Clinton’s top individual players, Orr pointed to senior Topanga Easterday.
“[She] is just a super athletic kid,” Orr said. “She’s a senior, and so she’s kind of setting the standard.
“She’s a center-mid for us typically. She does a good job of finding gaps and getting open and making opportunities.
“Juliana Metchikoff is one of our freshman players,” the coach said. “She’s a center-back for us. And she’s just had an outstanding start to her career. I think she plays really mature soccer, and she’s doing a great job for us.”
In her first year with the team, Orr said part of the challenge has been establishing expectations and bringing together players with varying levels of experience.
“I think part of (the struggle) is just getting everybody settled into, you know, what the program expectations are now,” Orr said. “I think we have a tough schedule, a tough region for sure.
“But we have such a wide mix of girls, you know, girls who have only played for a year or two, girls who have played their whole lives,” she added.
“So trying to get everybody unified is a difficult task.”
The Lady Dragons picked up their first victory of the season with a 3-0 win over Fulton on Aug. 27.
