keeper. Driving to our first
game, I was shaking of nerves,
getting into my own head,
imaging how the game could
go, and the pressure seemed
to be square on my shoulders
because I’m the last person
back,” explained Simoncelli.
“But as we warmed up and I
looked around me, I became
more confident. I had my
team around me who sup-
ports me and will work their
hardest towards our goals,
I knew I had to focus and do
my part for this team, and do
it well. As I crossed the line
onto the pitch, everything
else vanished. I blocked all
else out. I thought of all the
hours of training and hard
work that led up to this mo-
ment and I played my game
that I’ve been playing all my
life. I’m so grateful to have a
team that leaves everything
they have on the field. With
my amazing team and coach-
es Aaran Lines and Rob Fer-
guson there to guide us, I felt
confident that we belonged
there, that we earned our
spot there.”
After a summer where
she was part of a team that
finished in the top eight in
the country, it would have
been easy for Simoncelli to
just rest on the fact that she
was an elite keeper. But that
isn’t exactly how she is pro-
grammed.
Instead of sitting home and
soaking up the sun the rest
of the summer, Simoncelli
sat and reevaluated what she
needed to work on to become
even better. She knows to be-
come one of the best keeper
she can be that she needed
to sit back and see what she
needed to work on.
“I think that being an ath-
lete means you are nev-
er done. My strengths can
always get better, and my
weaknesses can be turned
into my strengths. Right now,
if I had to scout myself, one
of my strengths would be my
fearlessness. I’m not afraid of
contact or doing what is nec-
essary to get to the ball. An-
other one of my strengths is
my distribution,” explained
Simoncelli. “When I first
came to The Flash, it was
one of my weaknesses. But
through hard work, experi-
ence in games, and help from
Coach Lines, my distribution
is a big part of my game. I’ve
become comfortable com-
ing out of my box and be-
ing a support option for my
defenders. I average more
passes than saves in games.
I need to quicken my deci-
sion making and to commu-
nicate those decisions to my
teammates. As a goalkeeper,
I need to be a leader in the
back line. Where I get caught
the most is the through balls
placed between my defenders
and me. I need to be quicker
to make the decision to come
off my line or to stay back and
communicate that decision
faster so our defending can
be smoother and organized
with no hesitation.”
While she does admit there
are still things to work on,
there is one thing that you
cannot fault Simoncelli of
not having - and that’s a soc-
cer IQ. She is a student of the
game - that’s what makes her
so good.
She understand what it
takes to become a great play-
er at this level - and what it
will take to become an even
better player at the next level.
There are players who under-
stand the game - and players
that just use their physical
abilities to make the plays.
For Simoncelli she uses
both. She has the ability to
make plays in goal, and on
the field like she did against
Mt. Mercy Academy, and she
understands the game. Un-
derstanding the game maybe
the most important part of
her maturation into one of
the best keepers in the area.
Being able to understand
the plays before they hap-
pen allows her to be one step
ahead of the opposition.
“Having a good soccer IQ
means you know where to be
and when, what ball to play
and with what pace, where
OCTOBER 19, 2018 | SportsUnion
the other players are on the
field at all times,” stated Si-
moncelli. “It’s the mechan-
ical parts of soccer that be-
come muscle memory or an
instinct implanted in your
brain. It’s using what you
know and acting upon it.
Having soccer IQ and know-
ing it can always improve are
key elements in a good play-
er.”
Simoncelli will also sit and
watch other players and try
and take things front their
game and incorporate it into
her own. While most players
will look at the United States
National team will inspira-
tion, it’s a Canadian National
team member that Simoncel-
li looks up to.
Former WNY Flash keep-
er Sabrina D’Angelo has the
type of game that Simoncel-
li likes. She plays the game
fearless - something that Si-
moncelli does as well.
“Sabrina D’Angelo who
plays for North Carolina
Courage and a member of the
Canadian National Team. She
stays connected and involved
with her defenders, being an
option with her feet and dis-
tribution is an important part
of her game also part of mine,”
stated Simoncelli. “She also
played on the WNY Flash, its
cool to think we came from
the same place with all she
has accomplished.”
What’s cool is what Simon-
celli is accomplishing for a
Nichols team that has a soc-
cer pedigree. The Viking has
always been the class of the
Monsignor Martin Athletic
Association - and this year is
no different.
In an earlier contest, it was
21
St. Mary’s, who are made up
of a lot of Flash players, who
took the win over the Vikings.
Simoncelli played great in
that contest and she knows
they will meet up again.
She knows a lot of the girls
from St. Mary’s from her time
on the Flash. She also knows
playing for the Flash in big
games has prepared her for
a playoff run that her and the
Vikings hope to make - with a
championship in their sights.
“Playing for the Flash has
shaped my game immensely.
Before the Flash I had the ba-
sics of punting form and how
to land when I dive, etc. but
I was ready to take my skill
to the next level. Playing for
Flash has helped me improve
since day one. Coach Marce-
lo Moreira has helped me be
more courageous in the air
and fine-tuned my forms. His
intense drills improve my ex-
plosiveness and endurance,”
stated Simoncelli. “Team ses-
sions with Coach Lines helps
me to improve my leadership
skills in the back and most of
all my decision making with
distribution. It was my big-
gest weakness, I was so ner-
vous and didn’t even trust
myself with a pass back, now
I feel confident and my play-
ers can utilize my feet and
distribution skills while play-
ing out of the back. All of the
coaches and players in the
Flash community continue
to support me and push me
to improve everyday. I am
so thankful to be a part of a
group where my coaches and
teammates challenge them-
selves and me, which helps
me to learn and progress with
every session.”