No matter what the sport, coaches everywhere talk about finding balance.
HUNTINGTON - No matter what the sport, coaches everywhere talk about finding balance.
Usually they're talking about the team.
But to find balance at a high production rate from one player is special.
Just ask Tom Hasbrouk, who has been coaching a midfielder by the name of Emily Godwin on the Class AAA Buckhannon-Upshur girls soccer team for the past four years.
Godwin had 32 goals and 30 assists as a senior this season, and the Buccaneers made a trip to the state tournament.
"She's one of those players who comes along once in a coaching career," said Hasbrouk, who has coached boys soccer for 24 years and girls for 10. "She's probably one of the most complete athletes I've ever coached."
Godwin was named captain of the Class AAA all-state first team, as selected by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association.
A lot of the state's top players now participate in club soccer - teams that travel from November through July and play in tournaments around the country as they hone their skills to play at the next level.
Such is not the case with Godwin. She's just a natural talent, Hasbrouck said.
"She doesn't play year-round," the coach said. "She's never been involved with club soccer, which I think is amazing."
Godwin is a star on the Buccaneers track and field team, which Hasbrouck believes has been a factor in her success on the pitch during soccer season. Godwin will be attending the University of North Carolina on a track scholarship in the fall.
Still, Hasbrouck has no explanation for the raw talent she exhibits in matches.
"Left foot, right foot, she strikes the ball equally well without even thinking about it," he said. "The biggest thing I can say about her is how humble she is with her teammates, and I think that's evident in the 30 assists."
HUNTINGTON - No matter what the sport, coaches everywhere talk about finding balance.
Usually they're talking about the team.
But to find balance at a high production rate from one player is special.
Just ask Tom Hasbrouk, who has been coaching a midfielder by the name of Emily Godwin on the Class AAA Buckhannon-Upshur girls soccer team for the past four years.
Godwin had 32 goals and 30 assists as a senior this season, and the Buccaneers made a trip to the state tournament.
"She's one of those players who comes along once in a coaching career," said Hasbrouk, who has coached boys soccer for 24 years and girls for 10. "She's probably one of the most complete athletes I've ever coached."
Godwin was named captain of the Class AAA all-state first team, as selected by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association.
A lot of the state's top players now participate in club soccer - teams that travel from November through July and play in tournaments around the country as they hone their skills to play at the next level.
Such is not the case with Godwin. She's just a natural talent, Hasbrouck said.
"She doesn't play year-round," the coach said. "She's never been involved with club soccer, which I think is amazing."
Godwin is a star on the Buccaneers track and field team, which Hasbrouck believes has been a factor in her success on the pitch during soccer season. Godwin will be attending the University of North Carolina on a track scholarship in the fall.
Still, Hasbrouck has no explanation for the raw talent she exhibits in matches.
"Left foot, right foot, she strikes the ball equally well without even thinking about it," he said. "The biggest thing I can say about her is how humble she is with her teammates, and I think that's evident in the 30 assists."
In fact, Hasbrouck said he has sometimes had to get in Godwin's face to get her to start taking shots.
"I would have to yell at her, 'Just take them on,'" Hasbrouck said with a laugh. "Go at the person, knock it by her, and then run downfield. In a 30- to 40-yard dash, no one is going to catch her."
The coach said in those instances, Godwin would crack a grin, and do what Hasbrouck asked, which typically resulted in a goal.
"Then the next time down she'd be passing it around again," he said.
Godwin is joined on the first team by teammate and senior defender Lauren Cvechko. Buccaneer forward Brooklyn Waddell, who also scored more than 30 goals, was named to the second team as a forward, along with Buckhannon-Upshur senior keeper Kelsey Hinzman, who had a 0.61 goals against average for the season while completing 15 shutouts in 24 matches.
The Buccaneers lost in the semifinals to eventual state champion Winfield, and the Generals are also well-represented on the all-state team.
Jayne Lawman made first team forward as a sophomore, scoring 31 goals, including the game-winner to beat Huntington High in the regional final, and the game-winner in the state title match against George Washington.
Winfield senior Erin Midkiff also made the first team as a defender while senior forward Emily Cole was named captain of the second team after tallying 32 goals.
Other first-team forwards include Charlie Lucente of George Washington and Maggie Snively of Morgantown.
In the midfield, first team selections included Lindsey Thompson - a junior from Shady Spring who scored 40 goals and had 10 assists while surpassing 100 goals for her career - along with Makayla Schmidt from Morgantown and Haley Claudio of George Washington.
The Huntington tri-captains - seniors Kelsie Burns, Braddick Price and Summer Wheatley - are also included. Price was named to the first team as a defender, while Burns and Wheatley made the second team.
The remaining first-team defender is Savannah Barajas of Woodrow Wilson.
Michelle Newhouse of Capital and Erica Yohn of Morgantown represent the keepers on the first team. Newhouse was also named player of the year by the West Virginia Coaches Association, while Yohn was named keeper of the year.
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