Richards Girls Soccer: Strong Spring Season Starts in the Summertime

Tricia Tuxford recognizes the importance of summer league soccer.

Nursing an ankle injury and coming off a high school season that just ended in mid-May, Tuxford–a rising senior at Richards--was still out there in the 90-degree heat playing in her normal role as sweeper.

“We use this to get prepared for regular season because we have a bunch of new girls coming up,” Tuxford said. “This really helps us out because at practice we have to condition and get better touches on the ball.”

Richards graduated 10 seniors off a team that made it to the regional semifinals last season, eventually falling to Sandburg, a sectional finalist. Tuxford and forward/midfielder Desiree Rores are the only two seniors back for Richards in 2012.

Their relative youth and inexperience has made summer league even more important for Richards, which won a regional championship during Tuxford’s freshman season. A lot of the girls don’t play soccer year-round while competing for club teams so the extra games are a big help.

“Playing summer league helps the girls keep their touch on the ball," Richards coach Marie Strelka said. "Giving them opportunities to keep their foot skills and stay in the game helps them develop more as a team. The summer league is also a chance for us to see how we are doing without our seniors that graduated.” 

For Strelka, that means experimenting with players in different positions and getting used to the new varsity kids that come up from the JV ranks.

But for all the seriousness that often comes with high school sports, Strelka says it’s a good reminder for her team to relax and enjoy the game. Richards has had such a good turnout for summer league that they often lend girls to other teams in need of players that day.

“Summer league should be a time for the girls to have fun,” Strelka said.

Despite the 10 seniors who graduated–many of which were starters--Richards will have some other returnees coming back to aid Tuxford next spring. Rores was the Bulldogs’ leading scorer last year and rising junior midfielder Kelly McGreal–whom Strelka described as having “great vision and skill”–also will contribute toward a strong core for Richards.

Tuxford knows much of the leadership and responsibility for next season will fall on them.

“If we keep teaching these new girls how to play, we can win some games,” she said.

And that’s exactly what Strelka wants to hear.

“The returning girls set the stage for the season,” Strelka said. “If the returning girls are determined and want to win, I think that winning attitude is contagious.”