By: Kristy Booher Angelo, Associate Athletic Director
For More Info: booherk@gilmour.org
Just one game into the season and the Gilmour Academy varsity girls soccer team is already earning recognition amongst the local newspapers. The News-Herald released its first Girls Soccer Top of the Crop weekly feature and the Lancers debuted at No. 9 – not a bad spot considering the teams ranked higher all had at least three games under their belts, with the exception of second-ranked West Geauga, which had two.
The Lancers hosted Villa Angela-St. Joseph in the home opener on September 2, defeating the Vikings 9-0. The first goal of the season was recorded by center forward Cooper Flowers '22, who went on to tally a total of two goals and one assist. Her first goal was what head coach Anton Trifonovs called a "pro-level goal."
"It wasn't her stats from the game that made her deserving of the News-Herald Player of the Week honor," said Trifonovs, "but her execution of high-level skills in addition to an outstanding, true, pro-level goal which, in my opinion, could compete for the Goal of the Year nomination in girls DII soccer."
And it's not just that particular goal that impresses Trifonovs, but rather the amount of improvement the junior has shown in only her short career in the sport.
"Taking into consideration that she just recently got more involved with the sport, one can conclude that in a very short period of time, Cooper has developed unique leadership skills, as well as improved her athletic and technical abilities. As a result, she is able to stand out both on and off the pitch," said Trifonovs.
Flowers is one of three Lancer fall sports student-athletes to be recognized so far this season as a News-Herald Player of the Week. Football's Santino Harper '23 earned the honor during the week of August 31, while volleyball's Kathryn Randorf '22 joined Flowers with the honor this week.
Be sure to check out photos from the first girls soccer victory this season in our Athletics Online Photo Gallery.
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