Thursday, October 1, 2026
The uniforms are the same, and for the most part, so are the players. But the outcomes have been quite different for the Clarke girls’ soccer team.
After failing to win a single game last season, the team has opened 2010 without a loss through its first five games (3-0-2 overall) after an 8-0 win over Roosevelt on Oct. 7. “Nobody really knows the deal with us based on last year’s [finish],” coach Becky Wachsberger said of the team’s opponents, several of whom remained the same despite a change from ability-based conference alignment to population-based.
Few teams at the varsity level in any sport are as young as the Lady Rams, and even fewer, if any, have blended together so quickly. Sophomore goalkeeper Emily Ramos took over the reins after sophomore Christina Pappas went down for the season due to injury and immediately played like a veteran. Normally a midfielder, Ramos had previous keeper experience outside of the school team, but had never played the position for Clarke. She already has had a hand in three shutouts. “Her first game against Island Trees she made some saves on breakaways and point blank [shots],” Wachsberger said. “She really has been [amazing].”
Sweeper Nicole Wahlig is back with the Lady Rams and has assumed a truckload of responsibility at the position, though Wachsberger has known Wahlig would be up to the task. The sophomore has even contributed a pair of goals. “She’s a big presence back there and keeps everyone organized,” Wachsberger said.
Surrounding Ramos and Wahlig on the backline are sophomores Nicole Callaghan, Kelly Clements and Alyssa Pekunka.
As young as the defense is with five sophomores taking on starting roles, the forwards are even younger, yet highly explosive. Eighth-grader Abby Trotter leads the team with nine goals and netted her first hat trick in the win over Roosevelt, and added two more in a 3-0 win over Valley Stream North on Oct. 4, while classmate Hope Quinonez has added a pair of goals as well. “She’s scrappy,” Wachsberger said of Trotter. “Anytime there’s a rebound, she’s there. [Abby] just knows. If the goalkeeper drops the ball, she’s there.”
Senior left midfielder Michelle Colvin has been producing at the varsity level for four years under Wachsberger, but 2010 may be shaping up as her best. With three goals and six assists, Colvin is developing into the total package, and takes on quite a bit of responsibility in the offensive flow. “She’s come into her own as a person and a player,” Wachsberger said. “She the go-to player for a lot of things.”
Freshmen Dina Simonian and Samantha Goodwin, are both in their second varsity season, and are consistent contributors at midfield along with freshman Julie Vuotto and eight-grader Nicole Russell seeing time on the right side of Colvin. “We have all this talent, we just had to figure out a way to put it together,” Wachsberger said.
