Trumansburg girls make strong run in sectionals

The Trumansburg girls soccer team had a season to remember. The Blue Raiders earned the top seed in the Section IV Class C after a 9-3-1 regular season and made their first appearance in the finals since 2017. While they fell 3-0 to Watkins Glen on Oct. 28 in Johnson City, there were still plenty of positives to take away.

One of the standout players was Lucy Ouckama. The junior defender helped keep eight shutouts and was one of three team captains. Ouckama credited the Blue Raiders’ camaraderie for pulling off a remarkable run in sectionals.

“My best friends are on the team,” Ouckama said. “Not only are we a soccer team, but we’re also the people that we hang out with in school and that we look for outside of school. I think those connections with our teammates and the love that we have for each other was something that [showed] we wanted [to win] for each other. I wanted it for everyone just as much as I wanted it for myself.”

The trip to Johnson City was a new experience for everyone on the team. They even had to go through a nearly 45-minute delay due to the referees showing up late. Despite the loss, Ouckama believes the Blue Raiders can learn a lot from that night and be better off because of it.

“Going into the final, I think we didn’t quite know what we’re walking into,” Ouckama said. “It’s a different experience than any other games we’ve played in the season. I don’t think anyone on the team had ever been to a section final before, so walking into that atmosphere was so different. We have the potential to do great things, and we’re able to do more than we thought. But I think definitely in the near future, we’ll need a little more preparation, technically and mentally, for the intensity of it.”

The championship was the final game for Trumansburg’s four seniors: Anna Parker, Ayala Coffin, Libby Tielens and Elle Mount. They all played a vital role on the team, whether it was starting in goal or coming off the bench.

“Anna is not only a phenomenal goalkeeper, but she’s also just such a nice, even-tempered person,” Ouckama said. “She’s such an amazing person to have on the team. She’s always willing to mess around with us but also get down to business. She wasn’t a goalkeeper her freshman and sophomore year, but our old keeper graduated. We needed someone and she was willing to do it, and that just speaks to her commitment to us.”

Ouckama continued.

“Ayala and Libby’s commitment to us made it possible for us to go as far as we did,” she said. “We were a very small team, and they had other commitments. But they were willing to come and practice with us and be part of the team, and that made it possible for us to continue practicing. … Ellie kind of counteracted everything I did. I’m all about team morale and playing games and having fun. She definitely brought the serious energy to it, which was always so important. She just brought a presence to the field that I don’t think the rest of our team had.”

This season has truly been a family affair for Ouckama. Her father, Anthony, is the head coach, her mother, Emily, is the assistant coach, and her little sister, Ellie, played her first season on varsity as an eighth grader. For Lucy, it’s all about finding the balance with her family on and off the field.

“After every game, my family spends at least two hours dissecting it and deciding what we did well and what we didn’t,” Lucy said. “Sometimes, that will get overwhelming, but I’m also really appreciative of everything that they’ve been able to do for the team and how they are really receptive to my feedback. They’ve worked with me and with the team to decide what’s best for us.”

There were many moments from this season that will stick with Lucy for a long time. There was the incredible comeback against Union Springs on senior night where Amara Landon scored two goals in the final five minutes to win 4-3. Then, there was the 2-1 victory over Greene in the sectional semifinals where Ellie scored the winner. But there were even more lasting memories off the pitch.

“One of my favorites was the bus ride to the finals against Watkins Glen,” Lucy said. “I was sitting in the last four seats with my sister, Elle Mount, Amara Landon and Raya Mount. We were doing a photo shoot of sorts, but we all had different versions of sunglasses with unicorns on. It was just a moment of connection with three of my best friends and my sister. We’re just having a good time but also getting to play soccer together. I will always remember the season in that moment and so many like it.”

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