AHS coach’s goal: See her team realize its high ceiling

ASHEBORO — A little rest in the middle of a high school sports season can have a very positive outcome for that team. Asheboro High School girls soccer coach Emily Roman is hoping the spring break allows her team to realize how good they can be if everyone puts their mind to it.

Not that the Blue Comets haven’t already enjoyed success. They certainly have as they took a 7-3-1 record into this week’s action with Eastern Guilford and Northeast Guilford, but Roman says she believes there’s another step this team can take. She’s that confident in their ability.

“The girls are starting to get into a rhythm of playing well together and we made some breakthroughs,” Roman said. “I’m hoping it carries over when we get back.”

The Blue Comets have outscored their opponents 41-16 heading into this week with the only losses coming to Pinecrest (11-0-2), Mount Tabor (7-0-2) and to Northern Guilford to start the Triad Area Athletic Conference season.

“We’re working on stuff beyond the soccer field, things like being mentally tough, not getting down on yourself or your teammates,” Roman said. “I have a lot of perfectionists and they get frustrated with themselves when they don’t perform the way they should. Sometimes rest and relaxation are important. 

“I believe when we come back from spring break, we will be a cohesive team.”

The cohesiveness shown comes honestly. The girls on this team are very good friends off the soccer field and spend quite a lot of time together.

“Our team chemistry, our bond is really close together, working really well together to have things come out positive,” said senior Jaira Arellano, who leads the team with 34 points, having scored 13 goals and delivered eight assists. “There’s always room to improve and get even closer. There are not any limits to how strong we can be together.”

Arellano has been the team’s leading scorer since she stepped on the soccer field her freshman season. In that first year, she tallied 11 goals and five assists for 27 points, tying her for the team lead in points. Her sophomore year, she scored 24 goals and added five assists for 53 points before scoring 19 goals and adding three assists last season.

“She has grown a lot in both field awareness and team leadership,” Roman said of Arellano. “She knows she has Chloe Chanmaly a very solid front line that can share some of the responsibility of putting the ball in the back of the net. In previous years, she took a lot of that upon herself. We are more balanced this year. In most of our big wins, we have had goals scored from six or seven players.”

A total of nine players have scored at least one goal this season with sophomore Kimrey Watts adding a team-high-tying 13 goals and senior Gigi Flores adding five goals.

“Watts has a bright future ahead of her,” Roman said. “She has something you can’t teach. She has the hunger to put the ball in the back of the net and that’s what makes our front line work. Gigi and Jaira have the foot skills, the finesse. Kimry brings that hunger to score.

“Kimry and Jaira are scoring most of the goals,” Roman added. “But it really is a team effort. Everyone is contributing. The part we struggle with is getting the girls to realize the height of their potential.”

One of the most underrated players on the team is senior Chloe Chanmaly. As the team’s left-outside back, she is one of the quickest players on the team.

“She doesn’t get a lot of glory, but she is probably one of my top absolute workers on the field,” Roman said. “Her position is extremely demanding and she’s been a starter since she was a freshman. She’s built to be on that field. She’s probably one of the most well-rounded athletes I have ever had.”

Chanmaly says the closeness of the team is what sets AHS apart from others.

“We have great players, all across,” Chanmaly said. “Defense, midfield, all the way to the strikers, We have trust across the entire team.”

Penny Smith is another key contributor to the team. The senior co-captain said she’s excited to get back on the field.

“For our team this year, we have such a great group of girls, especially our seniors,” Smith said. “We are definitely excited to get back to playing and get back into the conference.”

The Blue Comets have high expectations for the rest of the season. Expectations that most certainly can be met if everyone remains playing as one team.