Maine news, sports, weather from Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram, Portland, Maine

September 20, 2012

Windham receives a boost from its soccer sisters

By Paul Betit pbetit@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

Sisters Jordan and Cassie Symonds don't have any trouble linking up on a soccer field.

"It's a huge advantage," said Jordan Symonds, a senior stopper for unbeaten Windham. "She knows where I'm going to be on the field at all times. I know where she's going to be. I'm there to back her up. She's there to back me up."

"Jordan is really vocal so I can always hear her," said Cassie Symonds, a sophomore center midfielder. "After you've played with her a while, you know what runs she's going to make so I know what to do if I get the ball. I usually know where she's going to go."

It's the second season the sisters have played together on the Windham varsity.

"I think it means the world to them," Coach Deb Lebel said. "I've heard Jordan say 'this is the best time in my life to be able to play with my sister.' They really enjoy each other."

Although there's a two-year age difference, the sisters have plenty of experience playing on the same team.

"Before I was in high school, I played on her summer teams, and I think that has made me a better player," Cassie Symonds said. "Playing up, I guess, made me more physical."

During the summer, they often played for the Portland Phoenix.

"When Jordan was traveling to New Jersey for a tournament, most of the time my whole family would go," Cassie Symonds said. "If (her team) was down a player, they would let me know and I would just play with them."

Often the sisters end up playing next to each other as the Eagles' second line of offense.

"Our coach encourages me to go up and attack a lot even though I'm basically a defender," said Jordan Symonds, 17. "She thinks together we create a lot of offense."

"They immediately know when one speaks up," Lebel said. "All they've got to say is 'hey,' and the other one automatically gets the ball to her. They give-and-go very well with each other."

Lebel doesn't have to say much to get the Symonds to link up on the field.

"You can hear our coach yelling from the sidelines, 'pass it to your sister, pass it to your sister!' " Jordan Symonds said. "Obviously you glance up a little bit but I just know where she's going to be."

The sisters are a big reason the Eagles are 6-0 and atop the Western Class A Heal point standings.

"They still have the sibling stuff going on, but when it comes to playing soccer on the field they are the best of teammates," Lebel said. "They don't let anything at home carry over onto the field."

GAMES OF THE WEEK: Thornton Academy, one of the four unbeaten teams in Western Class A, will face a stiff challenge when it meets Deering (4-1) on Thursday night at Hill Stadium in Saco.

On Friday night, Greely (3-2) will look for a much-needed big victory when it plays Cape Elizabeth (5-1) in a Western Maine Conference game at Cumberland.

On Saturday morning, Cheverus (4-2) will try to snap a two-game losing streak when it meets Sanford (5-0) in an SMAA game at Boulos Stadium.

Saturday night, defending Class B state champion Falmouth (6-0) visits Yarmouth (1-3-1) in a renewal of one of the area's most heated rivalries. In the past 12 seasons, the Class B state title has been won by one of these schools.

Staff Writer Paul Betit can be contacted at 791-6424 or at:

pbetit@pressherald.com

Twitter: PaulBetitPPH

 

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