THE HIGHLIGHTS
10
WEEKEND OF NOV. 5 AND 6, 2022
For the love of the game Sydney Myers crosses 100 goal, 200 point milestones
BY ERIK RHYNE Press Republican
SARANAC — If you ever need an example of someone who lives and breathes a subject, just turn your eyes to Saranac girls soccer standout Sydney Myers and her love of soccer. “Yeah, I definitely would say so,” Myers said. “When I get home and I’m not doing homework, I definitely am like, ‘Oh, should I go do foot skills? Should I go for a run? Should I go shoot by myself or ask the girls if they want to go do something?’ It’s always on my mind.”
HISTORY Myers, a senior, etched her name among the greats in Section VII history this year when she topped 100 goals and 200 points for her career. She leads the league this year with 31 goals so far. One of her closest friends since second grade, teammate and fellow senior Lia Parker, says Myers has a true passion for the game. “You can definitely tell,” Parker said. “We’ll be in a French class or something. She’ll just pop off and say ‘Hey, do you think this is gonna happen today?’ It’s just always on her mind.” It’s been that way for as long as Myers can remember, going back to when she was four years old. Her father, T.J., who played soccer in high school, was the one who introduced Sydney to the game. “He’s been my coach ever since I played Mite soccer,” Myers said. “He’s coached me all the way up through my club team. He helps even when he’s in the booth and we’re playing on my high school team. Yeah, I always look over to him and he’s my coach all the time.” Sydney joked that her dad is “pretty hardcore” when it comes to coaching. If she performs poorly, she knows he’ll be the first to tell her. “He even lets me know the truth and what I need to work on which I like a lot,” she said. “I like that he
does that because he knows that I can be better than I am. and he wants me to know that.” It doesn’t stop there, as hardly a day goes by that Myers is not wanting to play soccer. “I don’t think there’s a day where I don’t want to go play soccer,” she said. “It’s always my main motivation and what I always want to do every day. Like when I’m at school, I always look forward to coming to practice after and having fun.” Having fun comes easier when you are a natural in the sport you love. “I definitely felt like I was just naturally able to play the sport,” Myers said. “It didn’t really ever really feel complicated for me to actually have to like focus. I take a lot of time out of soccer, and work on my own foot skills and I run and to stay in shape.”
NATURAL TALENT Saranac coach Amber Liberty remembers seeing Sydney’s natural talent at a young age. “I remember watching her at Cadyville Recreation Park and telling my husband, ‘Wow, wait until you see this kid,’” Liberty said. “And he was like, ‘Okay?’ and I said, ‘No, I watched her like school three boys, pull it back, and send the ball through to the other side.’ and she must have been eight, nine years old.” Nothing is more proof of her commitment and skill than her march to 100 goals, which she secured on Senior Night at Saranac High School on Oct. 15. It wasn’t even on her mind until she got towards the century mark. Myers’ parents were the ones who pointed out she was close to 100, and she felt determined to get it. “We absolutely knew, I mean, but you never also know in life, like you could be sidelined for anything at any given point,” Liberty said. “And we’ve talked about that. But, with her mindset and her work ethic that girl never stops, like 24/7, 365 days a year there was never a doubt in my mind that she wasn’t going to break (the mark).”
PHOTO PROVIDED BY C.R. TUNES SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY Sydney Myers began playing for the varsity team at Saranac in the eighth grade. She’s planning to play in college for St. Rose. If anyone knows Myers, they know she’s the farthest from heaping praise on herself, and always the one to shine the light on her teammates. Liberty added that there are times when she looks over and Myers is helping and coaching the younger players to make them better. Liberty said Meyers demands excellence in those around her, by demanding that in herself. She’s a true leader. “When on the field, she’s obviously a bee,” Parker said. “She is a team player. She’s always been a leader ever since she was in eighth grade. She moved up to varsity. She’s just one of those kids that has that spark. You can see it when she’s on the field. and off the field, she’s really
the same way. She talks about soccer parents watch her games and text a lot, but she’s a great friend and a her after each one. If she was to not receive a text, she’d wonder if everygreat teammate.” thing was okay. FAMILY It shouldn’t surprise anyone when Those who know Myers know how you ask her about her favorite memmuch her family means to her. ory. It’s not hitting 100 goals, or Her parents have been to every surpassing 200 career points against game she’s played and that is likely AuSable Valley in September. It was to continue for the remainder of her playing with her sister, Kayla, who career. is a junior defender at Plattsburgh “I wouldn’t be where I am today State. without them,” Myers said. “They “We had a tournament at Saranac, come to every single one of my and always against NCCS,” Sydney games. They bring me everywhere. said. “We hadn’t won it for a while. I They cheer me on every single game. crossed the ball to her and she scored They are my biggest supporters. If the final goal, in maybe the last 10 something ever happened to them, I seconds. We ended up winning. It’s don’t think I’d be able to play.’ easily my most favorite memory.” It doesn’t stop with her immediate But, she also has a second family, family either. Myers said her grand-
