Observer-Reporter Athlete of the Week
Name: Sabrina Bryan
School: Canon-McMillan
Year: Sophomore
Sport: Soccer
Bryan’s week: The Big Macs’ striker erupted for four goals in Canon-McMillan’s PIAA Class AAA first-round game against State College Tuesday night at Bald Eagle Area High School. Her offensive output led Canon-McMillan to a 7-0 victory and a spot in the state quarterfinals.
Against Spring-Ford at Chambersburg High School, Bryan collected a pass up the sideline from Allison Thomas with 20 minutes remaining in the second half. She sped past a defender and instead of shooting, Bryan passed to Alena Poljak in the slot.
Poljak fired a shot on net and scored to tie the game, 1-1. The Big Macs went on to a 2-1 victory, that put them in the semifinals against Central Bucks East. A 2-1 win there catapulted the Big Macs (19-4-1) to the PIAA Class AAA championship match Saturday in Hershey.
“She was hitting the corners (against State College),” Big Macs head coach Dave Derrico said. “They weren’t stopping her that night. She has grown between last year and this year a lot. She plays more integrated into the team this year. She has bought into the system, and she is listening to the older girls.”
Sophomore sensation: The quick, small-statured forward started as a freshman for Canon-McMillan, which reached the WPIAL quarterfinals last year. Bryan ended the season with 16 goals.
She has quickly evolved into one of the most dangerous strikers in WPIAL Class AAA with 27 goals this season. The Big Macs overcame losing in the WPIAL title game against Seneca Valley and are headed to Hershey to face Central Bucks West for the state championship.
Their shifty striker is a big reason for the opportunistic Big Macs, who overcame a first-half deficit to defeat Spring-Ford.
“We all just want it. We always know this is the last chance we have, so we give it our all and see what happens at the end of the game, Bryan said.”
Derrico has seen Bryan’s play evolve from last season. One example he pointed to was her pass to Poljak to set up the game-tying goal against Spring-Ford. She might have taken the shot last year, but Bryan is confident about deferring to her teammates in big moments.
“That’s an important step for her, and she is getting better at everything,” Derrico said. “The girls are bigger than her so she has to really struggle to win a ball. She is stronger this year than she was last year.”
Hershey bound: When Canon-McMillan began play in the state playoffs against District 6 champion State College, the Big Macs knew scoring early against a tough defensive attack would be paramount.
Bryan and her teammates took care of that. She had five shots on net and scored four times.
“I didn’t want the season to end yet. I knew that even though we lost WPIALs, we still had a chance at states,” Bryan said. “I didn’t want it to end so I gave it all I had.”
With the program playing for its first state title Saturday at 4:30 p.m., Bryan and her teammates are not ready for the ride to end.
“A lot of people are cheering us on at school too, so you want to show everyone how good of a team you are,” Bryan said.
Compiled by Lance Lysowski