Emily Palombo wants some noise to be made about Caelyn LaFlamme, who may be low-key in terms of publicity but is a huge key to success for the Lawrence High girls soccer team.
“She’s this quiet force,” the Cardinals coach said. “She goes unnoticed sometimes, but she’s really crucial. She never cares about recognition, but she deserves a lot more than she gets.”
Through her first three seasons, LaFlamme has been a steadying influence at center midfield for Lawrence. She defends well and is a key disruptor in halting an opponent’s transition. When the Cardinals are in possession, the senior keeps the offense moving ahead.
LaFlamme has been a center back for much of her career in travel and club but understands the nuances of her high school position.
“As a central midfielder you have to be really good on both sides of the ball,” she said. “Even if you score a whole bunch of goals, if you can’t track back and defend that’s gonna be a big issue. So you have to be strong offensively and defensively.
“You also need to be able to move on quickly. Things are happening constantly and you’re on both sides of the ball. If you make a bad pass or miss a tackle you gotta be able to move on right away, not think about it, and play hard.”
An awareness of what is unfolding also helps.
“You need great field vision as an attacking midfielder, being able to send the ball to those forwards and wingers and set them up so the whole team can get into the box,” LaFlamme explained. “And on the defensive side of the ball, you have to read where the other team is attacking, where they’re gonna play, be able to anticipate some of these passes and win them in the middle.”
It’s a lot of responsibility, but LaFlamme has handled it well for three seasons and was voted a team captain last year. Prior to preseason camp, Palombo figured she would gain the honor again.
“She leads by example and does everything you need her to do as a leader,” the coach said. “It’s definitely comforting having her back. She has the experience, she works hard. I think people are gonna look to her to be a steady, calm force again.”
In explaining what makes LaFlamme a strong two-way player, Palombo said, “She uses her body so well. She’s very good at turning, really good at tackling and with the timing of her tackles. And she has really good vision. She can see the field, take people on. She defends really well.”
Defending is something LaFlamme has done all her life.
She began playing at age 3 when she joined her cousins in the Lawrence Hamnett program.
“I kind of got thrown in there and stuck with it ever since,” LaFlamme said.
After moving to travel ball with Lawrence in second grade, she played two years in Hopewell travel before joining Next Level Soccer in fourth grade.
“I definitely learned a lot at that club,” LaFlamme said. “That shaped who I am today.”
In the winter of her freshman year she moved to PDA South, which is her current club. During the club season LaFlamme can usually be found at center back.
Despite her club experience, there were some jitters in ninth grade.
“When I came in I was super nervous, I was a scared freshman,” LaFlamme admitted. “I didn’t have any expectations of being a varsity starter. My goal was to make varsity. Being able to start was a big bonus. The team was super welcoming and it was a great year being able to play against some girls who are four years older than me and so much bigger than me.”
Asked about her stress level at the time, LaFlamme felt it was “pretty high. I remember being like, ‘Wow you’re a freshman on varsity; go make sure you prove to everybody you deserve to be on this field. You’ve worked super hard to get here so now show up.’”
She doesn’t recall how she played in her debut but “I definitely remember being nervous.”
From the start, Palombo liked what she saw as LaFlamme started at one of the most important positions on the field and helped the Cards to a 7-7-1 record.
“She was very technical and very physical,” the coach said. “Sometimes freshmen struggle with the physicality, but Caelyn was a force right away. She’s able to play multiple positions, but she has stayed at holding center mid because of how much ground she covers.”
Lawrence improved to 9-8 her sophomore year and 13-9 last season, and her offensive numbers have steadily improved. LaFlamme had two goals and one assist as a freshman, three and three as a sophomore and nine and four as a junior.
Suddenly, she’s a senior.
“It’s a bit surreal,” LaFlamme said. “Senior prep’s been ramping up for me so it’s starting to feel more real. I’m super excited for the season. We have a big chunk of our team coming back. We’re really focused on having another great season. We’re super excited.”
Lawrence returns a number of important players, including senior Becca Boggs (12 goals, 18 assists) and junior Ava Donnelly (11 goals, 7 assists). But it will have to replace the 20 goals supplied by graduate Michaela Little.
“Hopefully everyone can step up to the challenge,” LaFlamme said.
And that includes the center midfielder.
“I would probably like her to score a little more, and I think she would like to score a little more at times, but she keeps us toward the offensive attack and kind of disrupts the transition so that’s really important,” Palombo said. “She can score; she’s a force on corners. She’s just so strong. I would love to play her at more of an attacking role, but for us it works out best where she’s at.”
LaFlamme admits “I need to get more in the back of the net this year” and will move up when necessary. But she’s happy with her current position.
“I like the versatility of center back and being that last defender and stopping all those goals,” she said. “A lot of people like scoring that last-minute goal; it’s something they look forward to. For me it’s deny, deny, deny. If you’re on a girl all game and she keeps trying to shoot and shoot and you keep winning that ball, it’s something I love. A great feeling.”
Recalling how welcoming the seniors were her freshman year, LaFlamme has tried to be the same way with the incoming players.
“I try to replicate that and be super welcoming and make the team a super fun place where we can all be friends off the field,” she said, before quickly adding, “but on the field we get the job done.”
LaFlamme puts in a supreme work ethic to succeed at the job. She runs three days per week and hits the gym three other days. Lacrosse, a sport she has played since fifth grade, keeps her in condition during the spring. Every day features some kind of touches with the soccer ball.
“A majority of it I’m out there by myself, getting my reps in, getting on the ball, doing ball work, making sure both feet are comfortable,” she said. “I play with my sister a lot too.”
Quinn LaFlamme is a sophomore who saw varsity time last year, allowing the girls to play on the same team together for the first time.
“That was super exciting for us,” Caelyn said. “There were definitely days we got tired of each other, but it was a lot of fun.”
As hard as she works on the field, LaFlamme puts in equal time off it, as witnessed by a 4.1 weighted GPA. She also volunteers for two weeks in the summer at Safety Town, where she teaches incoming kindergarteners basic safety such as crossing the street, knowing their name and address, calling 911 and riding a bike.
Seasonal jobs include working in the summer as a lifeguard at Ben Franklin Swim Club — where LaFlamme swam in PASDA — and working at Carroll’s Christmas Tree Farm during the holidays.
“I ring people up in the barn and also make a lot of wreaths,” she said. “I wouldn’t tell you I’m super artistic, but I can make a wreath.”
Another time-consuming activity is searching for the right college. LaFlamme has received offers to play at three schools so far and is still waiting to hear from several Division I schools.
“I see her playing center back in college,” Palombo said. “She’s been such a force and plays at such a high level with her club teams. She’s a super competitor.”
LaFlamme is eyeing a career in physical therapy.
“Honestly — knock on wood, cross my fingers — I’ve never had a big injury,” she said. “But I’ve seen other people go through processes like that. It’s a hands-on job and being able to work with people every day sparked my interest. I know how it’s a science-based major; I’m a big science fan.”
When it comes to making her decision, LaFlamme will not sacrifice academics for soccer. She is hoping to find a school that balances both.
“I always have to remind myself soccer is not forever,” she said. “I’m going to school to be a student and an athlete.”
She certainly has done a good job of that at Lawrence.
