Contributed photo. Warren JFK freshman Andrea Ryan

Kennedy striker Andrea Ryan is dominant.

Averaging above three goals per game, she’s a big reason for the Eagles’ turnaround this season.

She’s also just a freshman.

Despite having roughly two months on the varsity pitch, Ryan has torn the Mahoning Valley soccer ranks up, filling the net on an at-will basis.

As of JFK’s Oct. 3 game against Lake Center Christian, Ryan is tied for second in the nation on goals at 48, according to MaxPreps

As dominant of a season as she’s had, Ryan will be the first one to tell you she wouldn’t have been able to do this herself.

“It’s definitely exceeded my expectations, it’s been hard, but I’m just more proud of our team,” Ryan said. “My stats have gotten us to this point, but the whole team has contributed greatly.”

Entering the program, there was pressure right away for the freshman to succeed. Eagles head coach Kayla Zoccole has worked with Ryan since she was seven.

While she was expected to contribute out of the gate, Ryan has certainly raised the bar. But the pressure on her is exactly what she wanted.

“I think that it was definitely something where I was expected to come up and help the team, but I think that that pressure helps me and motivates me,” Ryan said.

The group of upperclassmen and experienced players certainly helped that transition.

And in a way, Ryan’s positive energy, which is apparent from watching her, has spread like a virus through the team.

“(Ryan) brings a positive energy to her and then it spreads across the board,” Zoccole said. “The energy across the board is higher because (Ryan) brings it and it is contagious.”

It’s definitely a two-way street though, as Ryan and the upperclassmen that have mentored her have helped each other grow throughout the season. That has led to an 11-3-1 Eagles team looking to do some damage in the postseason.

“It’s a lot of pressure on me just coming in as a freshman, but I’ve had everybody lifting me up and welcoming me as a freshman,” Ryan said. “It’s really important to have that family-like bond with your team to help you, and bring you up, especially at such a young age. I need those people. Like my captains, they’ve shown (me) good (advice) like helping me with what to do, uplifting me, especially if I get down on myself. It’s so important to have them because they’re so mature, and they can help me.”

They’ve helped create a more confident player.

“It’s that confidence. She knows that when a ball is on her foot, there’s nobody better with that ball on her foot,” Zoccole said. “She strikes the ball from anywhere and she knows where the ball is going to be and she knows where to not shoot it every time.”

In the second half of last week’s game vs. LCC, Ryan casually scored a top shelf goal, her fourth of the afternoon. What appeared to be a simple flick of the ankle led to around a 30-yarder that had no chance of being saved.

Despite having just 15 varsity soccer games under her belt, Ryan has turned the exceptional into routine.

“It’s just something that comes naturally,” she said. “I’ve been playing for my whole life, so that’s just something that I hold myself to. It’s a high standard I expect for myself.”

That high standard isn’t just for soccer. While soccer is her main sport and her passion, the freshman also competes in tennis, basketball and track for the Eagles. She’s currently in the midst of two separate seasons at the same time.

“It’s hard. I play four sports, so I’m constantly training for everything,” Ryan said. “I play tennis, but soccer is my priority. Tennis is just something I’m doing for fun and to help out the team.

“I play club soccer and I do AAU basketball, so I just kind of have fun with it.”

Having coached Ryan most of her life, Zoccole has been able to watch her development firsthand.

“It’s amazing, but a coach can only bring a player so far. The player has to bring themselves and she really knows what needs to be done to win,” Zoccole said. “I tell her and she goes out and she gets it done. That’s been in her since she was a kid though. She’s always won us games. U-10, and now high school varsity. Pretty awesome.”

The Eagles are hoping to keep Ryan’s freshman campaign going for as long as they can. The next step is Bristol to close out the regular season and then the tournament begins.

Two years removed from a 1-11 season, Ryan and the Eagles have a lot planned over the next few seasons. Having helped lead the turnaround at Kennedy, Ryan is glad to be a part of the group.

“It’s so special. It’s so great. The environment is great,” she said. “Last year they came off with heartbreak, it was sad. They were upset but it’s like a brand new team. It’s just such a positive environment and it’s great to be in.”

byauger@tribtoday.com