Steinert High’s Kaitlyn Fedor fights for possession during the Spartans’ 5-0 win against Nottingham Oct. 4, 2012. (Photo by Suzette J. Lucas.)
The Steinert girls’ soccer team always seems to have big scorers up front who garner all the headlines with their goals.
But a consistently strong program such as Steinert would be nowhere without tough defenders, and the Spartans have a senior trio in the back this year that have been outstanding in shutting down opposing attacks.
Heading into the Mercer County Tournament quarterfinals, Steinert was 11-4 with eight shutouts and had allowed just 12 goals in its 15 games.
The defensive nucleus has been together for a long time in sweeper Rachel Rivera and outside backs Breanna Ciberey and Kaitlyn Fedor. They have been aided by stoppers Darah Wagner and Alana Falvo and goalie Briyanna Femia.
Ciberey and Rivera were teammates on the U11 Hibernian Xcel travel team, where Fedor guest played with them on occasion until joining the team full time last year.
Their long history together has provided outstanding chemistry in the Spartans defensive third this year.
“Playing together outside of Steinert has definitely helped us,” Fedor said. “We know how the other two play and know when they’re coming out or where we have to be, and we move well has a unit.”
“We’ve all always been really good friends and very supportive of each other on the field,” Ciberey added. “Playing on the Hibernian Xcel together has increased our chemistry even more.
“I believe that by all three of us being very vocal in the back, it carries throughout the field and sets the tone for the rest of the girls. Playing together for so long has definitely been a benefit and as teammates we’ve improved each other a lot over the years, always pushing each other to be better.”
Rivera made it unanimous, and explained why the connection is so important.
“There is a certain trust that the defense needs to build with each other; whether it’s to know who should challenge a ball, who should be clearing it, or who can possibly move forward to put pressure on the other team,” she said. “Although this trust isn’t easy to build, I have the utmost confidence in both Bre and Kait while I’m playing. They both are hard workers and are a huge asset to this year’s team.”
Fedor was on varsity as a sophomore, and began getting regular playing time last season. Ciberey also made varsity as a sophomore and was originally a forward, where she plays in travel ball. But coach Aimee Turnbull decided she might fit better in the back and Cibery started every game since her junior year. Rivera reached varsity last year and didn’t see much time until later in the season. She was initially put in the unfamiliar position of midfield but eventually moved back to stopper and then sweeper, where she played the second half of the season.
When asked to describe each other’s playing style, the trio had some interesting observations that re-enforced their familiarity with each other as the following comments illustrate.
Rivera on Fedor/Ciberey: “I find it interesting how Kait and Bre are my two marking backs, yet they play different and it works for both of them.
“Bre is a quick minded player. She is great when handling forwards on the other teams who are quick with the ball at their feet. She knows how to run down a player, yet she is knowledgeable enough to know when to clear the ball and when to contain and wait. She also isn’t afraid to get physical. Bre isn’t the biggest or strongest player on the field, but she’ll always give the other team a good fight to win the ball.
“On the other hand, Kait likes to win the ball the minute it is put near her, and she does a phenomenal job doing so. She is not afraid to win a ball out of the air, and she puts her body in front of the ball in any way she can.
“When she doesn’t win the ball, she works 20 times harder to win it back. I admire that from her. She is one of the hardest working players on the field. Kait also has one of the most positive dispositions on the field as well. When we’re down, she knows how to motivate us to keep our intensity where it should be.”
Ciberey on Rivera/Fedor: “Kaitlyn is a very aggressive and active player. She communicates with the rest of the team throughout the entire game. Kait is very hard working and never gives up.
“Rachel sees the field the best out of all of us and uses that to her advantage to keep us all on the same page. She’s always there to cover my mark whenever we are clearing out defensively. Although Rachel can clear the ball very well and takes free kicks nicely, she also carries the ball beautifully.”
Fedor on Ciberey/Rivera: “Breanna is a very aggressive and skilled back. She is good with being first to the ball and winning it in the air, but is also very fast and is able to chase down players very well. Bre is also an offensive threat, being able to carry the ball up having prior experience playing midfield and forward also.
“Rachel is a very smart player. She is aware of her positioning on the field and knows when she has to step and win the ball or just contain. Rachel’s biggest strengths also include her leadership and set pieces. She is able to see the field and keeps us organized with marks in the back, along with creating some dangerous plays in the offensive third from her set pieces.”
Each player has their own theory on what makes a good defender.
Fedor feels the key is to be smart, knowing when to clear and when to contain while always being aware of positioning and making quick decisions.
“There’s a lot of pressure,” she said. “One mistake can cost you and your team the whole game.”
Ciberey said an outside back must have quickness both on and off the ball and also notes that proper positioning is key.
“A vital part is knowing your mark, how she plays, how fast she is, how much room you can give her,” she said. “You need to know what her stronger foot is and which way you can push her.”
As a sweeper, Rivera has more freedom to roam than the other two and says mental toughness and awareness are the most important attributes. She agrees with Ciberey that knowing the mark is essential and says just banging the ball upfield isn’t how to go about defending, as the backs should initiate offense.
“You have to be able to contain and set the pace of the game,” she said. “We have to make sure we put ourselves into the best position to win the ball and transition into an attack.”
The defenders have been so good for most of the season that Femia has had several games where she has only needed a few saves for a shutout. But that doesn’t mean she isn’t a vital part of the unit.
“She is such a hard worker and even though we try to keep her as bored as possible she is always involved in the game, whether she is cheering us on or giving us direction in the back,” Fedor said. “She is also a very smart player and is a beast.”
“B, as I call her, has made some incredible saves and has saved us on numerous occasions,” said Ciberey. “She is aggressive in the box and will do anything to win the ball in the six.”
It has all added up to a strong year for Steinert after a sub-par 2011 season. Asked what has been the biggest difference, all three girls said the same thing – chemistry.
And that is definitely apparent in the defensive end of the field.
