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The Story Behind the List
KEENE, N.H. 11/25/09 - To kick or not to kick, that is the question.
That was the quandary filtering through the minds of 25 Keene State College women's soccer players as they stood in the middle of the team's practice field back in early September. Summoned by head coach Denise Lyons, the players were asked if they had what it took to step up to the line and hit a winning penalty kick with a championship on the line.
"I don't care what year you are. Anyone who's confident that they can make it, go over there," said Lyons, pointing toward the right goal. "Those who can't handle the pressure and won't be able to live with yourself if you miss, go over to the other goal."
Fidgeting in place and looking at each other with blank stares, the group gradually dissembled, half going to the right, the other half going to the left.
Lyons was surprised by the number of freshmen who gallantly galloped over to the right goal.
"I had always taken penalty kicks throughout high school and only missed one," said Mary Lake, a first-year back from Portsmouth, R.I. "I feel confident I can make it."
A few sophomores also stepped forward. "I like taking them," said Tara Nathan, a strong-footed forward from Bethel, Conn. "Some people get intimidated by the pressure, but I thrive on it."
"I have never taken one before, but it shouldn't be too hard," reasoned Leah Teter, a sophomore from Granville, Mass. "I'm game for anything."
With her group of aspiring kickers ready to put their best foot forward, Lyons began the audition. Each player was given four kicks. Those unable to knock in at least three winners were given the boot.
Initially a hands-down pick to make the Owls' coveted PK squad, junior Katie Bradford, after a mild protest, was brandished to the other side of the field. "You're just not good at it," Lyons told her top scorer.
"It's not all about power, it's about placement," said Lyons after the tryout session. "Katie wanted to break the back of the net with her shot. I can't take the chance of leaving her on the list."
There are all types of lists: shopping lists, honey-do lists, bucket lists. By the end of the day after ranking her kicking candidates, Lyons had her list - the 10 players designated to kick the Owls to a championship.
Two weeks before the Little East Championship Tournament, Lyons once again assembled her kickers for a little practice and to determine her "starting five." Although their services weren't needed in the LEC Championship, the PK crew was at the ready if called upon in the ECAC tournament. Their time would finally arrive on Sun., Nov. 15, at Brandeis University. Unable to come to a verdict against the Judges after 110 minutes of scoreless play, the Keene State women's soccer team now prepared for the moment of truth - the chance for the Owl penalty kickers to earn their feathers and bring a championship back to Keene.
There were some nervous moments on the sidelines as the minutes and the seconds dwindled down on the clock. In some cases, confidence was replaced by skepticism. "I remember thinking, ‘We better not go to PKs. I don't think I want to take one,'" said Teter.
When the game ended, Lyons and her coaching staff got together to plan their attack, go over strategy, and finally unveil the top five kickers on her list. "You could feel the suspense and panic in every single player," said sophomore Samantha Joe Saltalamacchia, one of the 10 players on the list.
"If I had to think on my feet, I would've gone with my top players like Molly Brunelle, Jaclyn Grant, or Bradford, but they're not the best penalty kickers on the team," said Lyons. There was nothing accidental or random about the players chosen. Lyons had learned her lesson from a past predicament.
An assistant coach for the Owls in 1990, Lyons and then head coach Bert Poirier were forced to scramble to put together a list of penalty kickers when Keene State's NCAA Division II National semifinal Championship game against Adelphi had ended with the teams knotted at 1-1.
Poirier got his team in the huddle and asked his players if they had any experience taking penalty kicks. Ironically Linda Efraimsen, a sophomore goalie, raised her hand, saying she had never missed. Efraimsen buried her PK shot and Keene State advanced to the finals with a 2-1 win over Adelphi. "We found out afterwards she had never kicked one in her life," said Lyons. "The reason why she had never missed is because she had never taken one."
Nineteen years later, Lyons called her team into a huddle and began to read the names. "They didn't know who the top-five would be until that day," said Lyons. "I thought they might stress over it and not be able to sleep."
One-by-one, Lyons began to read the names. In case a second round was needed, a total of 10 players were selected. Given their marching orders, they made their way onto the field to fulfill their assignment. "As soon as I heard my name called, I got butterflies in my stomach and cold feet," said Saltalamacchia.
In a strange twist of fate, three of the five players chosen to take the penalty kicks hadn't played a minute in the game against Brandeis, who won their ECAC semifinal game against Mass. College of Liberal Arts in penalty kicks. "The starters got them there, but it was the reserve players that were designated to finish it off," said Lyons. "It was a total team effort."
Holding hands in the center of the field, the Owls didn't get off to an auspicious start. Senior Kendra Spencer, perfect in practice, put KSC in an immediate hole by failing to score. However, Megan Dempsey, the team's sophomore goalie, came to the rescue, making a save on the Judges' first attempt. "When Kendra's shot hit the post, my stomach totally dropped. I knew I had to come up big for my team," said Dempsey. "I just read it right and made the save."
The save appeared to turn the tide in the Owls' favor. After
Nathan knocked in her shot, the next bid by Brandeis caromed off
the crossbar, putting KSC up by one.
Coming through in the clutch, Lake and Teter both scored to give
Keene State a 3-2 advantage. "When I went out on the field, I saw
my dad in the stands. He put his hand up like he had confidence in
me," said Lake. "I ran up, shot it, and got it in. It wasn't one of
my best shots, but in went in."
It would all come down to Saltalamacchia. A goal by the
sophomore would give the Owls an insurmountable 4-2 lead and their
first ECAC Championship since 2005.
Before the referee called her name, Saltalamacchia was already
walking to the goal. She took the ball and set in on the line. "I
never looked at the goalie. I tried to remind myself to be
confident in my ability," she said. "When the referee blew the
whistle, I didn't rush; I took the time I needed to put the ball
where I wanted it."
With one swift kick, all the pressure that had built up inside her was released. "After I scored it was a feeling of excitement, and a feeling of being content with myself that I was able to step up and do what I needed to do for the team and for myself," said Saltalamacchia. "I felt I did my part."
Overcoming the disappointment at not making the NCAA tournament, the Keene State women's soccer team ended its season as champions. "We didn't have much luck in the Little East Tournament, but winning the ECAC Championship was a great way to end our season, especially for our seniors," said Nathan. "I'm sure it's going to give us some confidence going into the next season."
Next season couldn't come quickly enough for the Owls. A new season brings new goals and aspirations, new players, and, of course, a new list.
