Breakout year for St. Mary's Carter

by Matthew Ondesko: Managing Editor

Heading into the fall soccer season, St. Mary’s High School’s Reece Carter didn’t really know what to expect. Her first couple of years on the team Carter was positioned as an outside back.

But, that was about to change.

The coaching staff saw something in her and moved the junior outside in a more of an attacking role. The confidence the staff had in Carter paid off as the talented junior had a breakout season, chipping in nine goals and adding three assists.

While is was a change going from defense to offense, Carter always had that scoring mentality. Even as an outside back you would see Carter moving forward - trying to get into the scoring action. She has a nose for the goal and it paid off this past season.

“I’ve always had a forward mentality so even when playing outside back, I always tried to get up the field and help up top,” stated Carter. “Moving out wide was a breath of fresh air because it put me in the position to assist and score many goals this season.”

While she was scoring more it was still a transition. Playing defense most of her career, Carter was used to just crossing the ball in the box and then retreating back to her defensive position. Now, Carter was already positioned in the box.

She had to switch her mentality from stopping goals to scoring them. It took a awhile for her to get in that mindset, but once she did, everything just seemed to click.

“A huge adjustment I think I needed to make was switching my mentality on attacking. I used to go up the field and only really be able to cross the ball in the box from the wide position I was at,” stated Carter. “Now already being up top I had more chances to get inside and take shots myself. The biggest adjustment was figuring out when to cross the ball and when to shoot.”

Two of the most memorable goals Carter scored this past season where in the playoffs as St. Mary’s were fighting for that elusive Catholic State title. The first goal was the opening goal for the Lancers in the state semifinal. That goal helped propel the Lancers to the Catholic State finals.

Her second goal in the finals against Marcellus was a beauty. Carter positioned herself perfectly for the pass and was able to head the ball into the back of the net. Scoring goals in never easy, especially for someone who hasn’t done it for a long time.

“Scoring goals is always an awesome feeling but in really important games it is so much more exciting. Not only is it harder to score in these games, but it’s not guaranteed we score at all when you head to the playoffs,” stated Carter. “It’s an amazing feeling when you’ve worked hard all game and finally get a reward. I love the feeling of scoring and being able to celebrate with the team that helped make it happen.”

As a younger player, Carter would always be able to get the ball of her foot quickly. She was able to make the quick decisions that makes her the type of player she is. While she was able to make the plays she needed to make, Carter was still gaining confidence in her abilities.

As time has gone on, Carer has grown in confidence - and that has made her a better player. So has being able to play all over the field. Because she has played some many different positions it has allowed Carter to see the entire field - and approach the game differently.

“When I was younger I used to always get the ball off my foot quickly. I think in recent years I’ve gained more confidence and started taking my own opportunities rather than just passing to whoever’s open,” stated Carter. “I think I mainly improved because I got playing time in many different positions on the field. This helped me understand the game by showing me the different perspectives on the field.”

It has also helped to decide when she needs to be selfish, and take the ball herself, or find the right pass to a teammates. Scorers want to score, but there are times when you need to be unselfish.

That’s something Carter has been working on throughout the season.

“Sometimes knowing when to be selfish and when to pass is difficult. To me it depends on the players positions but also the flow of the game,” stated Carter. “Sometimes we don’t have easy games where we will be able to get on the ball in the eighteen to score. So just knowing how the goalie and back line plays has a major role in knowing when to pass and when to shoot yourself.”

While the high school season had ended, the work has just begun. Carter sees little downtime as she is now in the heart of the club soccer season. Carter continues to hone her skills while playing for the Western New York Flash.

She is just one of a handful of St. Mary’s players that play for the Flash during this time of year. Playing, and practicing, against some of the best players in the country only makes Carter better. The club season allows her stay fit and work on the things she needs to work as she looks to get better.

“During club season is one of the most important times to take your game to the next level physically, mentally, and emotionally. Club helps you stay fit, address your weaknesses, reflect on the season, and train with a purpose,” stated Carter. “It’s all about setting goals to accomplish for the upcoming season. Being on a high school team and a club team with a lot of the same players on both of them also really helps elevate the teams chemistry and bond which is another really important part of growing to be a better team.”

But, there is also a lot of pressure when playing in these ECNL games. The games are heavily recruited by college coaches looking to find the next big star. Carter knows that it’s easy to get distracted when playing in the games, and showcases.

Carter also knows she needs to just play her game. She can’t control what goes on in the stands. She can only control what she does on the field.

“It’s easy to get distracted, overthink, or even try doing too much,” stated Carter. “To stay grounded I’m going to stick with what I do best, stay confident, and trust my decision making. There’s no point in trying to suddenly change your style of play based on pressure or mistakes.”

As Carter gets ready for her senior season, she knows she still has a lot to work on. She is to show everyone that this year wasn’t a fluke. While this year was a breakout year, Carter is ready to take the next step in her development.

“Going into next year I’m looking to work on my physical conditioning, technical skills, and mental resilience to come back stronger, sharper and be an overall better player,” stated Carter. “Sticking to what I know works is my main approach going into next season.”