Women's Soccer

Koval leads Syracuse women’s soccer despite limited on-field role

Michael Cole | Staff Photographer

Alexis Koval made 35 starts from 2012-13, but has just three this season despite being the Orange's vice-captain.

After being named vice-captain at the beginning of the season, Alexis Koval feared her teammates wouldn’t take her seriously and respect her.

But despite only starting three games this year, Koval has helped lead the team.

“I think she fills the role really well,” captain Jackie Firenze said. “Whether she knows it or not, people definitely look up to her.”

Koval is the only senior on Syracuse’s (5-9-4, 2-6-1 Atlantic Coast) roster and has one game left in an SU uniform as the Orange’s season ends on Sunday against No. 5 North Carolina (11-2-2, 8-0-1). SU has been eliminated from postseason contention and Koval will finish her career with just one winning season.

Unlike many of her younger teammates that have struggled to adjust to the pace of college soccer this season, Koval doesn’t have time to spare.



“Yeah, it is frustrating just because this could be my only year, my last year,” Koval said. “I get into a game and I know this could be my last game. And for them, they have three more years. They don’t know the stakes that are for each game.”

Thirteen of Syracuse’s 24 players are in their first season with the Orange, which made Koval’s senior season more challenging.

But as the season unfolded, Koval became more comfortable with her role and she learned how to set a standard for teammates.

“She’s had to be responsible for helping groom some of the younger players,” SU head coach Phil Wheddon said, “…and that’s not always easy to do especially with such a large group.”

Koval gets to practice 10 minutes early, trains on her own outside of the team’s practice field and visits Corey Parker, the team’s strength and conditioning coach.

She helps pump up the team in the locker room before games. When the team has early morning lifts, Koval encourages everyone to get through it.

Freshman Eva Gordon was teammates with Koval for two years in high school at nearby Christian Brothers Academy of Syracuse. When Gordon played on varsity in eighth grade, Koval was her role model.

They played forward together and anytime Gordon needed assistance, she turned to Koval. But in college, Koval’s style has had to change, Gordon said.

She has tallied just one goal and one assist this season.

In her sophomore and junior seasons, Koval started 35 games. Though she hasn’t been on the field as much this year, her influence has been stronger off the field, Gordon said.

“She knows how to get things done,” Gordon said. “She knows what our coaches want us to do and how they want it done.”





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