Lamberton Locks it Down on Defense for Guilford Girls’ Soccer
Erin Lamberton has been entrenched in the soccer world from a young age and she’s used her experiences on the pitch to develop into a strong leader and solid defender for Guilford’s girls’ squad.
Erin, a senior co-captain, started playing soccer at age 4 and has competed at the Premier level in Guilford, with South Central, and also for Connecticut Sporting. Now in her final year with the two-time defending SCC champion Indians, Erin is guiding a young club that features several varsity rookies to another solid season, while anchoring a defensive backfield that’s allowed just 12 goals.
“Our effort has been a big key this year for us. We are a very close-knit team that help each other and read each other well out there,” says Erin, whose team is 11-1-2. “Our defense is definitely helped by our communication because we are always covering for each other. We are good with staying put, marking up our targets, and just clustering in the middle to stop shots.”
The tight bonds of friendship amongst the Indians have helped Erin during her tenure at the captain’s helm. For Erin, the role has been accompanied by some occasionally bumpy waters, although she’s traversed them by always maintaining an optimistic mindset.
“I was very happy when I found out I was captain this year. I feel I’ve handled it well. Again, we are close and listen to each other well, so it helps the communication,” Erin says. “One of the hardest things about being captain is staying positive, even through the rough spots. When our team is upset—for example, after our first loss, I have to stay positive as a captain.”
Indians’ Head Coach Scott McMahon certainly appreciates all of Erin’s abilities, but it’s her selflessness to his squad that he holds in the highest regard.
“Erin represents the reality of playing in a strong soccer program. She represents the struggle that players deal with to be the best they can be. This season, she has shown great maturity as she has supported her whole team and, especially, the players who’ve stepped up and earned their place on the field,” says McMahon. “Our record is, in part, a testament to her showing her teammates that the team comes first. I have great respect for the person that Erin strives to be and look forward to her contributions to our team the rest of the season and beyond as she moves on. Erin wears her heart on her sleeve and I respect that very much.”
Guilford hasn’t really had one player at the root of its offensive success in 2015. One of the reasons the Indians do have numerous scoring threats is because Erin and her fellow defenders are smart with how they clear and distribute the ball.
“I feel we’ve done well distributing the scoring because we do well with our combo plays,” Erin says. “For me personally, I look for a path toward either the middle of the field or down the sidelines when making a pass to someone on offense.”
While Erin has played an instrumental role in influencing some of the Indians’ young upstarts, she admits she felt some trepidation when first stepping foot on campus given Guilford’s championship legacy. That reputation is something Erin aspires to add on to in the coming postseason.
“I love watching the younger girls grow as players. It’s a very satisfying feeling. Playing for Guilford soccer is awesome. It was intimidating coming in by seeing the talent of the girls that we’re here. It’s also amazing seeing how much we’ve grown in being like those players before us,” says Erin, who thanks her father, Coach McMahon, JV coach Fred Franzoni, and all her teammates. “For us, we just need to keep doing what we are doing, stay positive, and work hard.”