Head Wants Lady Pioneers to Love the Beautiful Game
by STEVE WILMOTH
TriCitiesSports.com
For Tori Head, it’s all about the love of the beautiful game.
When the former Dobyns-Bennett and ETSU star arrived at David Crockett, she didn’t found many participants who simply didn’t have their heart in the game.
“I came here with the mentality that the game of soccer is to be loved,” said Head. “Here people were out here just to have something to do. I wanted soccer to be a priority. Do you love it? Can I teach you enough to where you love it? If you don’t understand the game and don’t know what you are doing, you’re not going to love it.”
Head also got involved in the middle school programs, an effort that’s now help boost the numbers in the system.
“The program is growing,” added Head. “It’s grown leaps and bounds since I got here. So, we are very young, we have a big freshman and a big sophomore class.”
A freshman, Alyssa Suits, will step in a keeper.
“I’m very excited about Alyssa,” said Head. “She’s very athletic and plays with no fear which a like.”
Suits will benefit from three returnees on the back line – senior Aly Clay and sophomores Emily Hylton and Harlee Petretta. Junior Marilisa Morales will fill an open spot at outside back.
“With three veterans I feel like we are pretty solid back there, that’s going to help a lot,” noted Head. “I need those three to be solid to help out the nerves of a freshman keeper.”
Both outside mids return. Left-footed sophomore Londyn Horton is on the left-side with junior Toni Schroeck on the right.
“Londyn being left-footed on the left side helps a lot,” said Head. “Toni is very a good player, good leader. She’s one of our captains.”
The center mids figure to be sophomore Katelyn Grayson and junior Ashton Browning.
“Both played a lot of minutes last year,” added Head. “Ashton is also our back-up keeper.”
Senior Makenna Summers will be joined up top by freshman Emily Whitson, a Tori Head clone.
“Emily is a small girl, but very fast,” said Head. “I think her speed will surprise some people. And she plays with no fear, she’s physical. You look and her and think she’s not going to run you over, but she will for sure. I see a lot of goals in her future.”
While some bemoan the new district alignment and double round-robin schedule that now will includes two fixtures against Dobyns-Bennett, Science Hill and Tennessee High, Head embraces the new slate.
“I personally think it’s great because it can show our improvement between the first match and the second match and that makes them love the game more,” explained Head.
“And that means we also play Daniel Boone twice. And when we play them, it’s the same intensity as it was when we played Science Hill.”
2017 David Crockett Lady Pioneers
0 – Alyssa Suits, FR
1 – Emily Whitson, FR
2 – Toni Schroeck, JR
3 – Kara Aloisio, FR
4 – Emily Hylton, SO
5 – Ashton Browning, JR
6 – Marilisa Morales, JR
7 – Jade Welch, JR
8 – Makenna Summers, SR
9 – Aly Clay, SR
10 – Harlee Petretta, SO
12 – Addie Stadler, FR
17 – Kelly Broadwater, FR
18 – Skylyn Simmons, JR
21 – Londyn Horton, SO
23 – Christyana Scott, SO
25 – Katelyn Gibson, SO
2017 David Crockett Lady Pioneers
August
15 – at Science Hill, 6:00 p.m.
17 – Morristown East, 6:30 p.m.
24 – Sullivan Central, 6:00 p.m.
28 – West Greene, 6:00 p.m.
29 – Dobyns-Bennett, 6:00 p.m.
31 – Elizabethton, 6:00 p.m.
September
5 – at Volunteer, 6:00 p.m.
7 – at Grainger, 6:00 p.m.
12 – at Tennessee High, 6:00 p.m.
14 – Daniel Boone, 5:30 p.m.
19 – Science Hill, 6:00 p.m.
21 – Unicoi County, 6:00 p.m.
26 – at Dobyns-Bennett, 6:00 p.m.
28 – Tennessee High, 6:00 p.m.
October
3 – at Daniel Boone, 5:30 p.m.
5 – at Elizabethton, 6:00 p.m.