Alesio guiding North in middle
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
Sarah Alesio’s senior season of soccer may not have started the way she hoped, but she is determined to help it finish strong.
West Windsor-Plainsboro North spent the summer running and training together, attended a pair of soccer camps, and went through the preseason unbeaten. Then they lost three of their first four games of the regular season.
”It was very frustrating,” said Alesio, a senior captain. “We were not ready for it. Goals just came to us in the preseason. We played the same game, but our shooting was a little better.”
WW-P North took out some of its frustration in a 7-1 win over Hamilton on Thursday to move to 2-3 this season. Stephanie Parrot led North with three goals. The Knights try to ride that momentum and move above the .500 mark when they face Lawrence on Wednesday and Ewing on Friday.
”Any frustration there was, it’s all gone,” said Alesio, who tallied a goal and assist in the win. “The stress, it’s gone. We have two games this week. We’re excited. All the frustration is off our shoulders after that one win.”
Added Knights coach Kevin Mackenzie: “It was the wrong place, wrong time for Hamilton. We started off with a quick goal and it got things rolling.”
The win was a show of the sort of firepower that the Knights can have on any given day. WW-P North has possessed the ball well all season. It just lacked a killer instinct in the early going, and ran into some bad luck, like a hit goal post with less than a minute remaining against Steinert. North is feeling better about its season going forward from such a productive game against Hamilton.
”I really feel like our defense has pulled together a lot in the last few games,” Alesio said. “We changed our lineup a little bit. I feel like what we have now is strong and it’s going to be strong going forward. If we play our game, we’ll be fine.”
The Knights are counting on strong play out of the midfield from Alesio, who is in her second season at center midfielder. It’s the perfect spot for a player with her talents.
”Everything goes through her,” Mackenzie said. “She’s been playing great at both ends of the field. She’s very physical. She’s quick. She’s got good skills. She’s good in the air. She really has a strong overall game.
”And she’s our absolute vocal leader. Sometimes you have good players, but they don’t say anything. Sarah has no problem taking charge and directing our play. She lets the girls know when they’re not playing up to the level of play they should. When it comes from one of your captains, sometimes it’s more impactful than coming from the coach. She leads by example. She’s never going to ask more of anyone than she gives herself. She could play anywhere.”
Alesio is happy to be such a big part of the Knight team. She and Briana Taft take all the restarts for WW-P North, and Alesio was happy to get in on the scoring, though she termed it an “ugly” goal. She isn’t worried about being a scorer on a balanced Knights team.
”I know if I don’t, somebody else will,” Alesio said. “I’m confident in all the girls on the team.” Next fall, the offense won’t be her focus. She will be playing defense for Fairfield College. She also plays defense for her Match Fit Celtic club team. Committing early to a college team means she can turn her attention and energy to helping the Knights.
”We had some tough games and missed some shots we should have finished,” she said. “I think we’ll come out strong. We have a couple games ahead of us we can win. We’re excited.”
That excitement and enthusiasm is as important to the Knights as any contributions that Sarah Alesio could make on the field. She is helping to steer a WW-P North girls’ soccer team that is anxious to continue to prove that its slow start is behind it.
”We could and should have a better record,” Mackenzie said. “I have to give the girls a lot of credit. They stay positive. They have confidence in each other. We’ve had excellent leadership from the seniors. The girls really stayed focused. They’re really confident we can attain our goals.”

