Contributed picture. Warren JFK freshman Andrea Ryan

Kennedy striker Andrea Ryan is dominant.

Averaging above three objectives per recreation, she’s an enormous cause for the Eagles’ turnaround this season.

She’s additionally only a freshman.

Despite having roughly two months on the varsity pitch, Ryan has torn the Mahoning Valley soccer ranks up, filling the online on an at-will foundation.

As of JFK’s Oct. 3 recreation in opposition to Lake Center Christian, Ryan is tied for second within the nation on objectives at 48, based on MaxPreps

As dominant of a season as she’s had, Ryan would be the first one to inform you she wouldn’t have been ready to do that herself.

“It’s definitely exceeded my expectations, it’s been hard, but I’m just more proud of our team,” Ryan mentioned. “My stats have gotten us to this point, but the whole team has contributed greatly.”

Entering this system, there was strain straight away for the freshman to succeed. Eagles head coach Kayla Zoccole has labored with Ryan since she was seven.

While she was anticipated to contribute out of the gate, Ryan has definitely raised the bar. But the strain on her is precisely what she needed.

“I think that it was definitely something where I was expected to come up and help the team, but I think that that pressure helps me and motivates me,” Ryan mentioned.

The group of upperclassmen and skilled gamers definitely helped that transition.

And in a means, Ryan’s constructive vitality, which is clear from watching her, has unfold like a virus by means of the staff.

“(Ryan) brings a positive energy to her and then it spreads across the board,” Zoccole mentioned. “The energy across the board is higher because (Ryan) brings it and it is contagious.”

It’s undoubtedly a two-way avenue although, as Ryan and the upperclassmen which have mentored her have helped one another develop all through the season. That has led to an 11-3-1 Eagles staff seeking to do some harm within the postseason.

“It’s a lot of pressure on me just coming in as a freshman, but I’ve had everybody lifting me up and welcoming me as a freshman,” Ryan mentioned. “It’s really important to have that family-like bond with your team to help you, and bring you up, especially at such a young age. I need those people. Like my captains, they’ve shown (me) good (advice) like helping me with what to do, uplifting me, especially if I get down on myself. It’s so important to have them because they’re so mature, and they can help me.”

They’ve helped create a extra assured participant.

“It’s that confidence. She knows that when a ball is on her foot, there’s nobody better with that ball on her foot,” Zoccole mentioned. “She strikes the ball from anywhere and she knows where the ball is going to be and she knows where to not shoot it every time.”

In the second half of final week’s recreation vs. LCC, Ryan casually scored a prime shelf aim, her fourth of the afternoon. What gave the impression to be a easy flick of the ankle led to round a 30-yarder that had no likelihood of being saved.

Despite having simply 15 varsity soccer video games beneath her belt, Ryan has turned the distinctive into routine.

“It’s just something that comes naturally,” she mentioned. “I’ve been playing for my whole life, so that’s just something that I hold myself to. It’s a high standard I expect for myself.”

That excessive commonplace isn’t only for soccer. While soccer is her foremost sport and her ardour, the freshman additionally competes in tennis, basketball and observe for the Eagles. She’s presently within the midst of two separate seasons on the similar time.

“It’s hard. I play four sports, so I’m constantly training for everything,” Ryan mentioned. “I play tennis, however soccer is my precedence. Tennis is simply one thing I’m doing for enjoyable and to assist out the staff.

“I play club soccer and I do AAU basketball, so I just kind of have fun with it.”

Having coached Ryan most of her life, Zoccole has been capable of watch her growth firsthand.

“It’s amazing, but a coach can only bring a player so far. The player has to bring themselves and she really knows what needs to be done to win,” Zoccole mentioned. “I tell her and she goes out and she gets it done. That’s been in her since she was a kid though. She’s always won us games. U-10, and now high school varsity. Pretty awesome.”

The Eagles are hoping to maintain Ryan’s freshman marketing campaign going for so long as they will. The subsequent step is Bristol to shut out the common season after which the event begins.

Two years faraway from a 1-11 season, Ryan and the Eagles have so much deliberate over the following few seasons. Having helped lead the turnaround at Kennedy, Ryan is glad to be part of the group.

“It’s so special. It’s so great. The environment is great,” she mentioned. “Last year they came off with heartbreak, it was sad. They were upset but it’s like a brand new team. It’s just such a positive environment and it’s great to be in.”

byauger@tribtoday.com