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10/20/2016 12:00 AMAndrea Basilicato’s high school soccer career began in triumphant fashion and now she’s looking to come full circle by going out on a high note this year.
Andrea, a center midfielder, gained plenty of varsity experience as a freshman in 2013, when she notched a goal and an assist during the Guilford girls’ soccer squad’s run to the Class L state title. Andrea’s started in each subsequent season and, following an All-SCC, All-State, and All-Area campaign last year, the senior captain has scored 11 goals thus far this fall for the Indians, who are 8-3-1 and on their way back to the playoffs.
“Over the summer, I worked with a guy by the name of Shane Smith and did some pickup games with college players, so it was nice to work with those that had just a little bit more experience,” says Andrea. “Also, more of my goals this year have been from further out from the net. I try to just have that confidence and that confidence as a shooter.”
Andrea’s initial taste of playoff success in her freshman year not only gave her a boost of self-confidence going forward, but it also unlocked a new level of passion for the pitch that she didn’t know she possessed.
“Playing in states and scoring that goal as a freshman was a huge thing. My sister Nikki was a senior on that team, so it was awesome to play with her and in that state final,” Andrea says. “That tournament was the turning point for me and made me want to work and focus harder on soccer.”
Head Coach Scott McMahon has noticed a marked improvement in Andrea’s abilities with each passing season. McMahon also sees Andrea’s desire to contribute to her team’s overall success.
“She’s started the three years since [freshman year] and improved each season. This year, she’s taken it to a new level, being able to handle tough marking and focus by our opponents due to her being All-State and All-Area as a junior,” says McMahon. “Despite her individual success, she is clearly driven to make her teammates better and win another SCC and state title before she’s done.”
Andrea says that she appreciates how her teammates have helped her flourish as a goal scorer despite the fact that she’s targeted by the opposition on a daily basis.
“It’s difficult to be marked as a targeted player for a whole game. But we have so many strong players on this team, so I can pass the ball off to them, and then maybe they pass back to me for a score,” she says. “I trust my teammates and my coaches to help me out, as well.”
With many versatile weapons all across the field, Guilford needed a little time to make all the pieces fit early on this season. Since then, it’s been smooth sailing for the Indians, who are hoping to cap the season by hoisting their third SCC trophy in four years and also win another state crown.
“At the beginning of the year, we had to figure a lot of things out, but we have that chemistry now with new formations. Our goals in the end are to be division, SCC, and state champions,” says Andrea, who thanks Smith, McMahon, fellow Indians’ coaches Fred Franzoni and Rick Geremia, her club team coach Mike Howard, plus her sisters Nikki and Jacki. “We have to take it one game at a time, focus on the little things, and play good soccer.”