by Bea Peterson
The HFCS Girls Soccer Team helped Coach Tom Husser earn his 200th win in a game against Tamarac, at home, on Thursday, October 11. Husser has been coaching the team for 11 years, 2001 through 2012. During that time he has built an impressive record. He has had three trips to States, 2005, 2007, 2011, and they have won the title twice, in 2005 and 2011. Last year Husser was named NY State Coach of the Year.
This year the Team is WASAREN league champs for the fifth time. Husser has had four Section II championship wins, and he has been named Section II Coach of the Year three times. Husser’s wife, Ange, said, “Tom knows how to get the best out of every athlete, and he truly cares about the girls.” Gail Delurey said, “When you talk to the girls… they all love Tom and think the world of him. We have been truly blessed as parents to have a coach like Tom at Hoosick Falls working with our daughters. They have learned so much from the program, both on and off the soccer field. He is a coach that gives his team 110%. I get a little teary when I think that this is Grace’s last year. He has had such a profound influence on all of us.”
Husser attributes his success to having good players. He often refers to them as “soccer junkies” as they play the game year around. The 200th banner was a big surprise to him. When asked if he thought the team would make it to State again this year he responded, “Everyone has high expectations. The girls, and their parents, they don’t think it’s a successful season unless we go to States.” He added, “Sometimes they forget we’re just a little small school from upstate New York.” Non the less, that small school has an impressive record and an impressive Coach.
The final score of that 200th game was 6-1. “No doubt, the team played with heart and passion. The defense was made of steel,” said Gail Delurey. Both Grace Delurey and Jordyn Haynes had hat tricks with an assist from Grace Delurey, two from Allie Martin and one each from Casie Mann, Alyssa Giordano and Alyssa Houghton. Hannah Fricke had five saves in the goal.
