Calhoun Girls Soccer Ready to Take the Next Step

It's time to turn things up a notch. 

That seems to be the rallying cry as the Calhoun High School Lady Colts get set to kick off soccer season next Monday against Baldwin.

Turn things up as in a more aggressive style of play on the field, which the team hopes will net them a few more goals, as they hope to climb out of the basement of Conference III.

Calhoun was competitive in most of their games a year ago, but the end result was still a 2-12-1 record.  Second year coach Lori Biscardi says it's time to go on the attack, and turn a few of those close 'L's' into triumphant 'W's'.

"We just really couldn't finish, and score a goal," Biscardi says during a recent practice.  "Everything else really was there, we pretty much got a little unlucky."

Biscardi says her team needs to spread the ball around more, from defense on up to the forwards.  When the ball comes a players' way, the message is simple: take charge.

"Beating their player to the ball, not being afraid," Biscardi says regarding what she hopes to see.  "Not letting it bounce, getting your head on it...being mentally tough as well as physically [tough]."

Calhoun needs to replace leading scorer Danielle Kirby.  The star forward graduated, and Biscardi is looking to several players to pick up the scoring slack.

It starts with a newcomer.  Freshman forward Kayla Cappuzzo joins the squad, and she's already made quite the impression.

"She's very fast, has incredible skill, knows the game very well and puts the ball in the back of the net," Biscardi says of Cappuzzo.

Biscardi will also depend on a couple of returning players for offense.  Midfielders Mary Hijazi and Sarah Shuster, and forward Michelle Iacono lead the Colt attack.

"I think [we need] more passing on the field rather than just kicking the ball and running," Shuster says. "We have to spread out more and hit each other's feet."

Hijazi believes depth could be the key to turning around the fortunes of her team.

"I think we're going to have a really good year," she says.  "We struggled the past few years record-wise, but this year we have a lot of good underclassmen, it looks like we can win some games."

On defense, the team will look to junior Talia Charidah, who is expected to be the club's sweeper this season.

"Everyone really wants it this year," Charidah says. "We want to have a good record, we want to win games so I think everyone's going to put out their best in every game."

Biscardi says Charidah and Hijazi each bring different styles onto the field when it comes to leadership.

"I'm expecting Talia to be very vocal on the field and help make the decisions for the team, tell them what to do," Biscardi says.  "Mary's more of a silent leader, the girls look up to her because she just has incredible talent."

In goal, Alissa Battaglia returns as starter, and her coach feels the sky's the limit for the sophomore.

"She's very quick, has a great reaction to the ball, good hands, just very athletic," says Biscardi of her goalie.

 After two years of rebuilding, Biscardi thinks Calhoun is on the way up, and should provide a tougher matchup for conference rivals like Kennedy, Mepham, and Valley Stream Central.

"This year I think we're taking the next step," Biscardi says.  "I'm very optimistic, with the talent that came up from the middle school, even our JV team is going to be stronger this year."

Biscardi's players agree: some key additions plus team unity should equal a turnaround season for the Lady Colts.

"Team chemistry is really good, we like to have a good time, we definitely bond really well," Hijazi says.

And Calhoun hopes that bond will propel them to a deep postseason run.