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11/18/2015 11:00 PMIt’s rare to see a freshman step onto the varsity field and make an immediate impact, but that’s exactly what Allie Augur did this fall for the North Branford girls’ soccer team. Allie earned the nod as the T-Birds’ goalkeeper and recorded four shutouts in 16 games, while allowing three or more goals just three times.
“Being a goalkeeper, I know my personal ability. When I step on field, I can impact game somehow,” says Allie. “I think it starts with the team. We communicate and, when we’re on the field, we work as a unit. That’s a key of being a goalkeeper.”
North Branford Head Coach Pat Kozloski says he’s excited to know Allie will be an important member of his squad for the next three years because of the energy she generates at all ends of the field.
“If you watch her practice, she approaches the game very professionally. Her warm-up is intense—to say the least—and she gets herself ready to play both mentally and physically. She’s a tremendous goalkeeper and she’s always communicating,” says Kozloski. “All in all, she’s a phenomenal goalkeeper and it all starts with how she approaches the game in a professional manner. We generate our offense through solid defense. To have her be in the net, she’s able to distribute the ball effectively and efficiently when she wins it.”
Allie has put herself through a lot to become an effective goalie. Allie started getting serious about playing the position when she was around 10 years old and has been training with a personal coach ever since.
“I play year-round. I do a Premier league and a private goalie training,” says Allie. “Without my coach, I wouldn’t be where I am now. I’ve learned better technique and more about the game. He helps me put everything together and it’s done a lot for me and my career. We do some fitness, as well as a lot of diving for low balls, working on footwork, and jumping for high balls. It’s a good mixture.”
Allie’s rookie year with the T-Birds certainly featured her fair share of highlights. She posted shutouts versus Haddam-Killingworth and Hale-Ray in back-to-back games, which helped calm her nerves throughout the rest of the campaign.
“As a freshman, you’re playing seniors that are talented and you didn’t know what to expect. I was definitely nervous, but excited to be given the opportunity. I remember getting off the field and the whole team was so happy [after the H-K shutout]. It made me more confident talking, making saves, and being a part of the team,” says Allie. “It was extremely exciting. I always dreamed about playing high school soccer and being a part of the team.”
As Allie continues her high school sports career, she hopes to compete for North Branford’s girls’ basketball team in the winter and then play tennis in the spring. Allie’s sister Gabby is a member of both squads and Allie feels eager for the opportunity to play alongside her.
“She’s an inspiration,” says Allie. “I see her work ethic, so I want to play for her to show me just hard work. It’s a fun game when you play with your sister.”
Allie views the possibility of being a three-sport athlete as an exciting prospect as she’s someone who loves staying active regardless of the season.
“I love constantly doing something. It doesn’t matter what it is. I just love getting outside or running around and doing something,” Allie says. “That’s what’s fun for me and what I enjoy most.”
With her quality freshman season now officially in the books, Allie is looking forward to what her next three years with T-Birds’ soccer could potentially bring from both an individual and team perspective.
“I think I improved a lot. I got to learn more about my teammates and what coach wanted. It made such an impact,” says Allie. “I want to become even more comfortable on the field and continue to work on my foot skills. I also want to create a stronger bond with my teammates and be better at communicating with them.”