Clemson commit set for comeback senior season with St. Mary’s
LANCASTER, N.Y. (BVM) — Even with just a handful of games on the Lancers’ schedule last year, the St. Mary’s girls soccer team could feel the missing impact from now senior midfielder Gabby Gambino.
The star center midfielder had already completed back-to-back stellar seasons becoming one of the top playmakers in the area as an underclassmen. After starting her freshman year, Gambino broke out with 11 goals and 11 assists in her sophomore campaign, setting herself and the team up for a future playoff run.
Those hopes, however, would be put on the back-burner after a knee injury during her club team’s spring season would sideline the Lancers midfielder for her upcoming high school junior season, following a six to eight month recovery.
“Gabby is probably the most competitive person I know and that just raises the level of training,” St. Mary’s head coach Brittany Heist said. “For her not to be involved in that environment… [and not] being out on the field and showing emotion and being able to compete, was a big void. There were other players that stepped up and did a really good job filling it but it was definitely different not having her a part of it.
“She’s a mainstay in the midfield and makes things happen both on the defensive side and offensive side … In the same sense, looking at the bigger picture, she did a really good job being a role player and seeing what that’s like on the sidelines and [she] had to lead in a different way. I thought she did a really good job when it was needed for her this past year.”
Watching Gambino get back on the field has been exciting for the Lancers coach who has had a connection with the senior midfielder since she was 11 years old. As the program director for Gambino’s club team, the WNY Flash, as well, Heist has been able to see the Lancers star get back in the flow of things this past spring and summer.
“After a big knee surgery, you’re always curious if kids are going to bounce back and be as athletic and as fast,” Heist said. “She has recovered nicely and is back where she was in regard to being a springboard with the ball. She actually makes people look kind of slow with the way she’s able to glide past people with the ball.”
Getting back her signature playmaking ability will be a major help for St. Mary’s. Gambino played an integral role this summer down in Florida as the WNY Flash took home the North American Cup during the ECNL playoffs behind her contributions as a scorer.
As the upcoming high school season comes into focus, St. Mary’s is looking forward to the opportunity to pair Gambino back up with the star power the team already consists of. The Lancers midfielder has already shown her competition a sample of her skillset as an underclassmen, but her coach expects her to put her full ability on display as the season kicks off.
“Her speed is definitely a really big attribute for her,” Heist explains when asked what sticks out about her game. “Her passing range both on the ground and in the air is exceptional which is another big strength of hers… [and] her ability to strike a ball and shoot with both feet is fantastic.
“Her sophomore year, she was uncontrollable by other team’s defenses and she’s just added size, strength and athleticism now being two years older on the field. So I think she is going to have a really successful high school season. She’s going to be a terror in all 14 of those [games], so my expectations are high.”
With a final season left, Gambino will be looking to build upon her skillset before she makes the jump to the collegiate level. This summer, the St. Mary’s senior committed to Clemson, taking her game to the ACC. With a chance to still watch Gambino at the high school level, Heist think’s the sky’s the limit for the Lancers senior.
“I think she is going to be the type of kid that commits to continuing to perfect her game,” Heist said. “She’s not the type of kid that likes to settle, so I think when she steps into the ACC and Clemson environment, she’s going to be very competitive right off the get go. Obviously, she’ll have to earn her playing time and her spot at that level but I think if she comes in healthy, she will compliment that program in a positive way, so I’m excited to see her translate her game.
“I think she definitely has another level to get to both collegiately and depending on her level of skill and ability at the college level and how it translates, I think she has another level, even professionally beyond that, if that’s something she is committed to and interested in.”
