American Heritage-Delray senior Emmy Schleifer finally got a taste of playing in a state championship final.
Even though the Stallions came up short in their bid to win their first state championship since 2014, Schleifer has come a long way since her middle-school days on the varsity team.
“I remember being a seventh-grader and trying to sit on the bench as far away from the coaches as possible so they wouldn’t see me,” Schleifer chuckled. “The last thing I wanted to do was get on the field. I remember my first start against Oxbridge, playing outside back, and I had never played there before. It was the scariest moment of my life. I think it is funny how far I’ve come.
“Even in my freshman year, I wouldn’t talk at practice,” she said. “I just kept my head down and played in games. Now it is really nice being a leader and helping everyone else.”
Schleifer, who signed with the University of Tennessee, was a three-year captain. She finished the year with 12 goals and eight assists from her defensive midfield position and helped the Stallions to a 14-1-2 record. It was also the farthest any Palm Beach team went this season in any class.
American Heritage-Delray hadn’t been to the state finals since 2015. In the state final game against Lakeland Christian, Schleifer had to move back to a central defender role due to injuries to other defenders.
“Going into the game, we knew we had some injuries, and I might have to go back to center back, which I was totally fine with,” Schleifer added. “It definitely stings not being able to pull it out, especially in the last game as a senior.”
“It was an emotional roller coaster of a game,” Schleifer continued. “I tried to keep everyone positive the entire time, especially for the other three seniors that aren’t going to play in college. I know it hurt more for them than it did for me since I am playing in college.”
Stallions coach Krisztian Mikoczi said he was really proud of her performance throughout the entire season.
“During her senior season she truly grew into a powerful leader on and off the field which fueled the team’s high performance,” said Mikoczi, who finished his second year with the team. “Emmy served as a role model for our young players and she is one of the best examples of the Heritage-Delray programs.
“I believe her real soccer career is just about to begin,” Mikoczi continued, “and with her winning mentality she will make a lot of soccer fans happy in the future.”
