Fitch Soccer Has New Ally In Aly Clarke

Aly Clarke plays her first scholastic varsity game today for the Fitch High girls' soccer team. Her reputation, however, has preceded her debut.

The 5-foot-3 freshman begins her high school career with tremendous expectations, built from a decorated youth soccer career unmatched by any previous player ever to come out of the Groton-Mystic area.

Last summer at age 13, Clarke was selected to the Olympic Developmental Program Northeast Region Team. The top 60 players in the entire East are selected for ODP, which identifies and trains top players in each age group who have potential to be considered for a U.S. national team.

Only a handful of local players, such as former Waterford All-America and current pro Katie Schoepfer, achieve such heights as a youth.

Clarke, a center midfielder in youth premier soccer, will start at forward as a freshman. Fitch returns a number of solid midfielders, including Clarke's older sister, Amanda, a senior three-year starter.

Many believe Aly will lead Fitch, which was 5-10-1 last year, in scoring and perhaps rank among the ECC leaders.  

"Aly is going to open a lot of eyes," said Joe Mendonca, Jr., Waterford High boys' coach and Clarke's coach for Southeast United U14 team  in Premier summer leagues. "She's going to score some goals for Fitch. Opponents are going to have to be aware of where she is."

The biggest adjustment for Clarke will be facing older and bigger athletes. In age specific premier leagues, she plays against others the same age and size. Her experience in ODP practices will help conquer the intimidation factor of facing older players.

"ODP practices and tryouts are very high-intensity," Clarke said. "You don't know any of the players, whereas in high school you are playing with friends you know which makes it more fun."

Clarke's goal is to score 10 to 15 times this season. In 2010, Fitch scored just 16 as a team.

Scoring goals is inherant in the Clarke family. Amanda and Aly's father is Todd Clarke, who set Fitch's single-season scoring record in the mid '80s and later started at Eastern Connecticut State. He is now Waterford High junior varsity coach.

"Aly has great vision and field awareness that is uncommon for someone her age," her father said. "She thinks on the field like a 17 or 18 year old."

Mendonca, known for his honest appraisals of a player's ability, believes Clarke has special talent and qualities.

"She's a dynamic and advanced player who has ability and tactical skills far beyond girls of her age," Mendonca said. "She strikes the ball as hard as some women. She's a soccer junkie but she has such a team attitude. She's a leader but she's the type of player that other kids really enjoy playing with. That's a special quality for the best player on the team."

One may wonder how older sister Amanda feels about having such a decorated younger sibling.

"I realize Aly is a special player and I'm proud of her," Amanda said. "She's put in more time on premier teams than I have. I'm happy with the way my soccer career has gone. I've started for three years and when I graduate I might play for a college team if it's the right program for me. I'm looking forward to playing this year with her. It's nice. She knows what she's doing and is very easy to play with."