Ever since she first noticed the enjoyment soccer delivered to her brother Alex a decade in the past, Helen Pojoy has been drawn to the game. She has aimed to show one factor — that there actually is not any impediment stopping her from reaching her goals.
“I think (this) has been about just being able to make my family proud,” mentioned Pojoy. “The people who have supported me, my coaches, my teammates throughout my 10 years of playing soccer are what inspires me to be the player I am today.”
Here we’re, and Pojoy is a senior with Lynn Tech’s ladies soccer program. Now the reigning Commonwealth Athletic Conference (Small) MVP has the Tigers on the verge of reaching a pinnacle they themselves have by no means attained — a statewide playoff berth.
Justin Barrasso took over teaching duties final season with the Tigers. He instantly observed Pojoy’s abilities on the sector.
“Stat-wise, win-wise, she’s the best player in Lynn Tech history,” Barrasso mentioned.
With an inclination to change between the striker and sweeper positions, Pojoy loved a breakout season in 2021 with 35 targets. As a senior, she has distributed the ball extra, with 21 targets and eight assists.
“Every practice, she brings the team to a different level,” Barrasso mentioned. “That’s where it all starts for her, on the practice field. She carries that over into games. She’s someone who works every time she steps on the soccer field. It’s her passion. It’s her heart, the devotion to the sport really helps bring her to the next level.”
Everyone is aware of Pojoy for her unbelievable profession stats (68 targets, 28 assists). Off the sector, the senior works as a plumbing scholar at Lynn Tech with a 3.6 GPA. Pojoy has additionally led a current breast most cancers consciousness drive with a few of her Tigers teammates, with proceeds benefiting the Ellie Fund.
“I think it would be wonderful for her to pursue her college degree and play at the next level,” Barrasso mentioned. “She said she wants to be the first in her family with a college degree, and that’s a wonderful goal. It’s a great example to her brother.”
Just like Helen, Alex wears jersey No. 2. The shut siblings are hoping to information Lynn Tech to new heights, with Alex having already propelled the Tigers to second-place end within the CAC this season.
Meanwhile, Helen and her teammates can accomplish historical past this upcoming Monday. With a victory in its remaining common season recreation, Lynn Tech (7-8-2) would safe a berth within the Div. 4 match for the primary time in program historical past.
“It’s been extremely exciting,” Pojoy mentioned. “Generally, I have no words to explain how much of an emotional roller coaster it’s been being a senior, being in my last year with the girls. It’s been fun.”
Oliver Ames groups soar
Those who’ve made the illustrious stroll down Lothrop Street to the steps of Oliver Ames High School in current weeks might have observed a newfound sense of pleasure locally.
There’s a good clarification.
For years, the Tigers have loved success with regards to soccer. This goes for each the boys and the ladies packages.
This season nonetheless, the varsity has seen one thing unprecedented. Both of its groups at present sit atop the most recent MIAA Div. 2 energy rankings as seeding day approaches. The boys are within the midst of an undefeated marketing campaign at 15-0-2. The ladies sit in first with a file of 12-3-1.
Oliver Ames’ takeover of the game could be attributed to a longstanding youth group. In addition to teaching the boys at Oliver Ames, John Barata has served because the director of teaching for Easton’s youth soccer program since 2005, and has watched his gamers mature into the celebrities they’re at the moment.
“They love playing the game,” Barata mentioned. “They’re young, which is interesting because we only have three seniors starting. But they’ve played together for a long time now. They’ve been climbing through the ranks. They’ve really just come together nicely, and they’ve gelled as a unit, which is cool, and they’re working hard. So at this point now, they’ve been able to enjoy the game, and they’ve been able to put forth a good effort everyday. So we’re pretty happy.”
Oliver Ames loved its greatest Hockomock season ever this 12 months, going undefeated at 15-0-1 in opposition to league competitors. During Barata’s tenure, the Tigers have made the state match every of the final 14 seasons. However, they are going to be gunning for his or her first Div. 2 championship since 2015. Expect sophomore sensation Casey Milliken (21 targets, 21 assists) to shoulder the load after shattering this system file for factors in a season.
Meanwhile, Britt Sellmayer’s group is in the same place, due to the performances of holding midfielder Mary Cross (seven targets) and middle again Sophia Byron (aim, seven assists). The senior captains mixed to place residence the eventual game-winning tally throughout a 2-0 win over Foxboro on Oct. 27, clinching the Hockomock League (Davenport) title for the Tigers.
Not unhealthy, given Oliver Ames graduated a large senior class from final season.
“It’s very exciting,” mentioned Sellmayer. “We have a rich tradition in our town with our soccer programs at the high school, which are an offshoot of our youth program. Any time you have good sports, you have a youth program that’s feeding it. That’s been our secret.”
Should Oliver Ames’ ladies embark on a run to a Div. 2 title, it could be the primary for this system since 2007.
Milliken hopes that each packages can full the miraculous feat collectively.
“It would be awesome,” Milliken mentioned. “We all know them, they all know us. We all talk about (championships) a lot. The environment around the school is really good, everyone knows it.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com