“I really just hope that I can leave an impact for other girls in the future,” she said. Vuotto said she hoped that she could become a trailblazer for more girls who want to play football someday. She’s funny, and she’s got ice in her veins. “She’s intelligent, she works hard, and she’s a pleasure to be around. “She’s everything you’d want in a young woman,” LoCicero said. While she has enjoyed football, she added, she hopes to play soccer in college, and has yet to decide where she will attend. Though playing football was an adjustment for her, she said, she has become comfortable with it and has felt support from her teammates and coaches. 22 in honor of her father because he donned the number when he played for the Owls. Upon joining the team, Vuotto chose to wear No. “I was actually wearing my soccer jersey under my football jersey because I didn’t have time to change,” Vuotto said with a laugh. After getting 10 quick practice kicks before game time, she went 4-for-5 in extra points for the Owls. football game, arriving with 15 minutes to spare. 18, she and the Owls played Long Beach to a 1-1 tie in soccer at Lynbrook in a game that started at 10 a.m., and she then traveled to Manhasset for a 2 p.m. Vuotto attends soccer practice throughout the week and then performs reps with the football team a few days per week afterward. While Vuotto handles the extra points, Joe Patitucci performs kickoffs and field goals, and Max Dantona handles some kicking duties when Vuotto can’t make it because of soccer. He d never had a girl on the football team roster before this year, but said he hoped it could be the beginning of a trend of integrating more girls into the sport. Locicero began coaching at Lynbrook High 31 years ago, taking on the head coach role in 2006. Everybody’s been part of that Lynbrook family, and we’re very excited for her and for the football program.” The community has been very receptive, the school is very receptive. “The team has welcomed her in, and they’re excited about her. Since she joined, she has gone 8 for 9 in extra points (one was blocked, not missed), and has helped the Owls (2-0) become the second-highest-scoring team on Long Island to start the season with 89 points. Having coached her in basketball in the past and her father, Joe Vuotto, in football when LoCicero was the wide receiver coach for Lynbrook in 1991, it dawned on him to ask her to kick extra points for the varsity squad.Īfter a tryout, LoCicero recruited Vuotto to the team, and she now plays soccer and football for the fall season. 23 and in need of a kicker when he glanced over toward the track and saw Vuotto, 17, taking part in a captains’ practice for the girls’ varsity soccer team, on which she is a midfielder. LoCicero was hosting the first day of camp on Aug. They’re so encouraging, and the coaches are so encouraging, and I couldn’t feel any better to be a part of the team this year.” All the boys are very supportive, and they make it better. “I think that the best part is just being able to be part of the team. “It’s honestly so much fun,” said Vuotto, who is the Herald’s spotlight athlete this week. Now she’s making history one kick at a time as the only girl to ever score points for the Owls on the gridiron. Lynbrook senior Olivia Vuotto said she never thought about playing football, but jumped at the chance to become a kicker for the varsity team when head coach Stephen LoCicero approached her.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |