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Speed is the
essence of the game for 15 year-old soccer star Emily Rogers. The member
of the Panhellenic 1990 girls, Rogers is among the quickest strikers in
the OYSL, a fact that was crystal clear in May as the Grade 9 Lockerby
student captured Gold in the 200m dash and Bronze in the 100m event at
the high-school city track championships.
A graduate of the Sudburnia Soccer system which she enjoyed for five
years, Rogers first garnered provincial soccer attention two years ago
as a member of the Panhellenic U-13 squad. “I started on the “B” team
and gradually worked my way up to the “A” provincial team” said Rogers
recently.
After heading to a Team Ontario training camp in Florida in March of
2004, Rogers suffered through an injury riddled campaign last summer,
forcing the talented teen to pull away from the Provincial program. “I
just wouldn’t have been ready for Nationals” noted Rogers, trying to
deal with both back problems and a broken toe.
But a new campaign has brought with it a renewed sense of purpose to
Emily Rogers’ game, by her own admission. And she feels strongly that
Panhellenic coach Giuseppe Politi has played an integral role in this
renewed enthusiasm for the sport. “The intensity he brings has helped me
find much more understanding and passion…and much more dedication”
suggests Rogers.
While the Sudbury ladies have posted some impressive performances
against some of the province’s best teams, Rogers is among those who
feel that improvement is still possible. “If anything, I would say that
we should be even more successful than we are right now” she says,
noting the team still has a tendency to get a little too relaxed against
non top-end opponents.
As for her soccer future, Rogers is focused on working with the current
Panhellenic group, with an eye on possibly heading back out to
Provincial tryouts again this year. And as for her track success? “Track
is something I’ll do for my school…but soccer is where I have a real
interest.”
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Emily Rogers, Panhellenic
United 1990 Girls
“Track is something I’ll do for my school…but soccer is
where I have a real interest.”
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