Both Blue Mountain's Madyson Riegel and Schuylkill Haven's Shelby Trumbo had individual goals for themselves this season.
But what was most important for both to accomplish during their senior seasons was to do whatever it took to help their teams win.
Riegel and Trumbo certainly did that this past fall.
Perhaps they didn't always receive the glory or headlines, but their talents earned them recognition from the Schuylkill League coaches. Both were nominated to the Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association All-State team and both got looks from NCAA Division I programs.
For their performances, Riegel and Trumbo are The Republican-Herald Girls' Soccer Co-Players of the Year.
Riegel, who shared the Player of Year honors in 2012 with Tamaqua's Kailee Rottet, finished the season with 18 goals and 15 assists. Blue Mountain (16-7-1) won its fourth consecutive Schuylkill League championship and reached the District 11 Class AA title game. Not only did Riegel play forward, she also saw time at midfield and defense in pressure games this season with great success.
On a team loaded with talent, Trumbo led a somewhat young defensive unit that was one of the best in the league as Schuylkill Haven allowed 21 goals this season and recorded 13 shutouts. Trumbo was also a threat on offense when needed, finishing with five goals and six assists as the Hurricanes (20-3) reached the Schuylkill League finals and won the District 11 Class A championship.
Coach of Year honors go to Blue Mountain's Mike Burcik.
The Eagles entered the year with seven new starters, but still won their fourth league title in their fourth year in the league, and topped it off with a surprising run through the District 11 Class AA playoffs. Blue Mountain reached the championship game, losing to Northwestern Lehigh.
Riegel turns into Blue Mountain's leader
Riegel has been playing soccer since she was in second grade. She started out as a defender, but when she was in seventh grade, Riegel moved to forward.
That's where she's played most of her high school career for the Eagles as she finished her four years with 64 goals and 41 assists.
"You pretty much take people on," Riegel said on why she likes playing forward. "You can make the game. You do what you want to do. There is a lot of freedom."
But Reigel's main goal this season was to become a leader for her team, and that's what she did.
During the summer, Riegel organized practices in an attempt to get the Eagles to bond from the freshmen on up. Burcik made Riegel the only team captain and relied upon her to get practices started each night.
With opponents marking her more tightly, Riegel looked for her teammates more to score the goals. It was also her willingness to not only play other positions, but excel while doing so, that was a big part of the Eagles' success this season.
In the Schuylkill League title game against Schuylkill Haven, Riegel played midfield and set up Jennifer O'Neill with the game's second goal in Blue Mountain's 2-1 victory.
But for Burcik, what set Riegel apart was her performance in the district title game against Northwestern Lehigh. Even though the Eagles lost 4-1, Riegel marked Sarah Segan, the Tigers' leading scorer, and held her scoreless until, with Blue Mountain down 2-1, Riegel moved up to forward late in the game.
Riegel's success both in high school and her play with FC Revolution and BSA Rage travel teams got her Division I looks from The Citadel, West Point, Marist, Canisius, Boston University, St. Thomas (Fla.) and Air Force. She has verbally committed to The Citadel.
What Riegel hopes area soccer fans remember her most for is being a leader.
"I don't care if they remember that I scored all the goals," she said. "I just want them to remember that I was a leader on the field. I tried to play my hardest and just leave everything out there for the team."
Trumbo leads defense, 'Canes to big year
Trumbo probably could have been a great offensive player, too. And given the opportunity to score, she did during her high-school career, finishing with 32 goals and 27 assists.
But Trumbo has built her reputation as a defender. She's been one of the best in the league her freshman year and she had helped turned the Hurricanes' program into what it is today.
Trumbo started playing soccer when she was four and started at outside midfielder. But when she started competing for the Pottsville Wildcats at the U11 level, she moved to defense. She gives her two coaches on that team, Bob Evans and Doug Degrassi, credit with giving her the skills that helped make her the player she is today.
"I do really love it," Trumbo said about playing defense. "I don't think I would like to play anywhere else.
"I just like being able to see every single thing that is going on. I feel secure there. I really like to know that I am in a position that I can help anybody when they need it."
Trumbo can do all that, thanks to her ball skills and speed that allows her to keep up with opposing strikers, as well as her ability to read what is going on in the field.
The Hurricanes entered the season with tons of experience, but they were somewhat young in the back as she was joined on defense by juniors Jodi Perhonitch and Emily Lehman, freshman Alyssa Gerber and keeper Genie Tucci, a junior. Still, Trumbo, who was a captain this year, didn't feel she necessarily needed to become more of a leader. She had faith in all of her players, and the unit was stout all season.
"I knew I had to step it up, but I didn't foresee any problems," Trumbo said. "Even our underclassmen are good. Everyone is a leader. Being my senior year and, knowing that we did lose a couple of starters from last year, I knew I really needed to pick it up, especially back on defense."
Trumbo received Division I looks from Canisius and Siena, and was offered a scholarship offer from Canisius. But Trumbo has decided to attend Division III Wilkes University. When she visited the campus, she felt comfortable there and it was where she felt she wanted to go.
As Trumbo, who currently plays for ACFCSA United out of Reading, gets ready for the next step in her soccer career, she hopes area fans remember her for her ability to play defense and helping the Hurricanes become winners.
"It wasn't all about me," Trumbo said. "I did sacrifice a lot for my team. I wish I could have scored more goals, I really did, but to be back there provided security for the other players. I want them to remember me for as someone who is not selfish. I really did what I could do for my team."
Eagles reach new program heights
Burcik wasn't exactly sure what he was going to get from the Eagles this past season. He ended up getting more than he ever expected.
What did it was Blue Mountain's district playoff run. The Eagles won district titles in 2010 and 2011, but what made this year's run so memorable was it was the first time it occurred since all high schools in Pennsylvania moved girls' soccer to the fall in 2012.
Entering as a No. 2 seed, thanks to its league title, Blue Mountain opened districts with a dominating 4-0 shutout of No. 7 seed Salisbury on Oct. 25. But the big shocker came in the semifinals Oct. 29 when the Eagles upset No. 3 Allentown Central Catholic 2-1. The Vikings entered the game as the No. 6 ranked small-school team in Pennsylvania.
Two days later, the Eagles lost in the finals to Northwestern Lehigh 4-1. The Tigers were ranked No. 1 in the state at the time.
"I thought it was an outstanding finish for us," Burcik said.
Burcik believed team chemistry was a big key to the Eagles' success. And, like Riegel, Burcik's players had no problems moving to other positions in big games, such as midfielder Abigail Fanelli marking Schuylkill Haven's Kelsey Sisko in the league championship game, and defenders Jada Alexis and Carissa Lorimer playing forward.
"If you can just get them to realize how important the team concept is and there is a part of that as an individual," Burcik said. "If you are being moved back there it is because you can count on them to do certain things. It is more or less a compliment to them."
Burcik also has plenty of faith in assistant coaches Lisa White, a former Division I player at Kent State, and Geoff Bogotuik, who was a keeper in college.
Burcik has a great mentor in Rob Burcik, his father, who's been the Blue Mountain boys' coach for 23 seasons. Mike played for his dad when the Blue Mountain boys' program started in the early 1990s.
One of the big things Mike Burcik felt his father taught him was to take ownership of the program.
"When you get the program, it is yours and you really have to invest in it," he said. "You have to have the kids knowing that you believe in the success of the program just as much as they do and it is just not at the practices and the games. It is the other things you are doing to make yourself a better coach."