Eliza Strassberger and Addy Kalafala are ready to see what’s in store for the Rhinebeck varsity girls soccer team this season after losing an overtime thriller to John S. Burke in the 2024 Section IX Class C final. The Hawks will open their season on Sept. 2 at Spackenkill.
“I’m very excited for the season and can’t wait to see what it brings,” said Kalafala, a senior. “I’ve seen a good improvement from a lot of our players. I see some young players with a lot of potential.”
Strassberger added, “I definitely think we have the potential to go back to the final. It’s going to take a lot of hard work at practice. The team is working very well together. Everybody gets along so well. We’re just having a lot of fun.”
The Hawks return only three seniors from a club that included graduating seniors and All-Section IX Class C-D all-stars Fiona Murray and Amanda O’Han.
Leading scorer Mai Curthoys is back after earning a spot on the All-Section IX team as a freshman in 2024. Juniors Claire Frischknecht and Allison Stephan also return with Kalafala and Strassberger to lead the Hawks.
“I think we’ll be back there as long as people stay healthy,” said Rhinebeck coach Matt Grande. “I really think it’s going to be about team cohesion, people buying into playing new positions and expanding the roles of some of the younger players.”
Grande added about the start of preseason, “The first few days of practice are hard because everybody is trying to get in shape, so what we’re trying to do is get everybody moving as much as possible and I like the work ethic, especially from the younger players who are fighting for a spot on the varsity squad.”
Following the season opener, Rhinebeck is scheduled to have home matches against Pine Plains, Sept. 8; Millbrook, Sept. 10; Highland, Sept. 12, and Dover, Sept. 16.
“I love this group of girls because everybody has their different roles on the team and different personalities that work so well together,” said Strassberger.