SHRUB OAK - Teammates describe Gianna Pace as an artist, her ability to combine creativity and precision. Some patterns are improvised while others are meticulously designed as the Lakeland soccer star has shown the ability to make any surface a canvas.
"She's got talent, and sometimes we just watch and see what she comes up with," senior Margaret Keating said. "She missed a few days in the spring with an injury, and that's when I think she did some of her best work."
Because we are, of course, talking about henna.
They're temporary tattoos made of a plant-based paste, common in Indian and Middle Eastern celebrations, and Pace has taken to drawing them on herself and friends. As the Hornets opened preseason girls soccer practice on Monday, the senior
sported some stiffy artwork on her left hand — a detailed flower with an intricate stem along her index finger.
"It's close," goalkeeper Amelia Calisi said, comparing Pace's abilities with a ball and with a stencil, "but I've seen her dribble around everyone. I've gotta think her foot skills are better."
And for that, Lakeland is thankful. Pace is among the most dynamic offensive weapons in Section 1 and she is part of a talented core that gives the team reason to believe this season is promising.
The Hornets reached the quarterfinals last fall, but they're within a cluster of quality Class AA teams that could benefit from powerhouse Albertus Magnus being moved up in classification after winning two consecutive state championships. Harrison, Yorktown and Mahopac, of course, are among those hopefuls.
"We have some good talent," coach Greg Doell said. "We graduated some good players, but we've got some good ones returning, and we have younger kids who played last year and seemed to have grown a lot. I think they can fill those spots well, but it'll take time. We'll have to work at it and improve as we go, but I think we'll be a really good team in the end."
Names to know
Margaret Keating, Sr., M; Amelia Calisi, Jr., GK; Gianna Pace, Sr., F; Mackenzie Latorre, Sr., D; Emma Garretto, Sr., D; Payton Sauer, Jr., D; Sophia Gonzalez, Jr., M; Alexa Marricco, Jr., F/M; Hannah Kiers, Fr., F/M
Schedule
Sept. 1 at CarmelSept. 3 at NyackSept. 5 vs. MamaroneckSept. 8 at EastchesterSept. 10 vs. PelhamSept. 15 vs. Hen HudSept. 18 vs. John Jay-Cross RiverSept. 23 at Horace GreeleySept. 29 vs. Walter PanasOct. 1 at YorktownOct. 3 vs. CarmelOct. 5 at PeekskillOct. 7 at MahopacOct. 9 at Walter PanasOct. 13 vs. YorktownOct. 19 vs. Mahopac
Takeaways
Keating, who committed to Saint Michael's last spring, is a returning all-section player and a leader of this group. The midfielder is strong defensively and in transition, excelling at facets of the game that aren't often reflected in a boxscore. Calisi is a solid athlete whose positioning and quickness have made her a standout goalie.
Pace, meanwhile, was a constant threat up top, the all-section striker totaling 22 goals and 10 assists last season.
"My teammates created a lot of opportunities for me to finish," the University of Maryland-Baltimore commit said. "Footwork is something I've practiced a lot, and figuring out how to create space and be aggressive. But the next step for me this season is helping the younger girls adjust and get comfortable in their roles on the field."
The Hornets seem to have the off-field comfort already taken care of. There is an obvious camaraderie within the group, reflected in their flowing conversations and laughter. And on the team's Instagram account, which features a Q&A series of random questions and often comical answers, highlighting the players' playfulness.
"When we proposed the idea of doing the videos, I loved it," Calisi said. "I wanted the younger girls to feel more at ease and know they can have fun here."
Interactions like those, Keating insisted, help build a closeness that in turn will eventually carry over into the games. More tangibly, she said, since their work in the spring and throughout the Lakeland summer league, she has noticed an improvement in the chemistry and collective field vision.
"I think we're gonna get stronger as we go through the season," Keating said. "The talent is here, and we're gonna bring up our tactical level. The section is obviously really good, but I think we can be really good, too."
Talking points
"I haven't watched it, but I've heard of Khaleesi," Calisi said, referring to the "Game of Thrones" character. "So many people have mentioned her to me because of the name."
"The summer league definitely helps make it easier to hit the ground running when preseason starts," Doell said. "We get to see where different pieces fit, where kids can play. It keeps the players going and helps them get ready, but it's also beneficial to the coaches."
"I'd get them on the boardwalk at Wildwood (New Jersey)," Pace said of her first henna tattoos. "I like to draw and I wanted to do one on myself. I ordered a henna kit on Amazon and just started practicing, drawing on myself. Now I do them for friends, and even I've done one for my brother Vinny."
Stephen Haynes covers sports for The Journal News/lohud.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Lakeland girls soccer opens preseason optimistic and full of potential
