Finishing off last season with 10 goals and 8 assists, Amanda Polyniak is looking to exceed last year’s production already with 9 goals and 7 assists in the first month.
“I like that [soccer is] a team sport,” Polyniak said. “It’s a sport I fell in love with at a young age.”
Being a member of Varsity Girls Soccer since her freshman year, Polyniak is looking to lead her team to another winning season.
“Hopefully we win the league then go as far as we can in counties and states,” Polyniak said. “It’s been a great season so far, and we are playing well.”
Girls Soccer Coach Leah Jerome praises Polyniak’s leadership and work ethic.
“Amanda is an outstanding player,” Jerome said. “She leads by example, [has a] tremendous work ethic, [and is a] pleasure to be around. She is a key part of [our] program.”
Jerome appreciates the opportunity of both coaching and teaching Polyniak at Pascack Valley.
“Amanda is a student-athlete, so fortunately, I have the opportunity to teach her and coach her,” Jerome said. “It’s a really nice dynamic to be able to know someone as a student and see them work hard in both things they do. She and her classmates have really welcomed me into the program and have made it really fun to be around.”
The relationship between Jerome and Polyniak is mutual.
“I feel like [our relationship] is pretty strong,” Polyniak said. “I’m always open to her suggestions, and she’s a great coach. Her positive attitude has helped the team and helped us change the team culture for the better.”
Polyniak not only appreciates Jerome’s coaching ability but also appreciates having her sister alongside her out on the pitch.
“That’s the best part,” Polyniak said about playing with her sister. “I have 7 assists, 5 [of which] have been to my sister, and she’s assisted me a few times. It’s great. We play really well together, and it’s been really fun.”
Polyniak also recently committed to play Division I soccer at Cornell.
“I’m really excited,” Polyniak said. “It’s a great school, and I get to play Division I soccer. It’s a perfect combination. I really like the campus, and it should be a good place [to be] for the next four years.”
As a future Ivy League student, Polyniak explains how she balances her time with sports and academics.
“Time management,” Polyniak said. “You have to get stuff done and think about your weekends and how much time you have. Based on that, I split it up.”
As the girls soccer team heads into the county tournament, the girls and Polyniak look to make some noise and continue on in the tournament. The Pascack Valley Girls Soccer Team starts its county tournament on Thursday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. against Pascack Hills.
