Small Business Coach

Saranac High School girls soccer is looking to remain the powerhouse they have been for the past several seasons in Class B.The Spartans, who won three straight Section VII championships in the past three seasons, are looking for their fourth in a row for the 2024 season. The team is confident they can do it based on the experience they have across their roster. “We have 10 seniors this year,” said Saranac senior defender Madelyn Willette. “We’ve played with each other since I can’t even remember because we’ve been playing together for so long.”Along with those 10 seniors are seven returners to the starting lineup. Willette reunites with fellow senior defensive backs Paige Ubl and Grace Damiani to support Desiree Jean-Pierre as she handles goalie duties for her second straight season. On offense, Saranac loses outgoing seniors Leah Hamel, McHenna Brown and Kaitlyn Slominski. They also no longer have current senior Brenna Ducatte, who opted to play for the school’s volleyball team this fall. They do return freshman Eve Liberty, sophomore Lily Brown, who were also key contributors to the Spartan offense a year ago. Ubl says the chemistry surrounding this team is strong with all the familiar faces on board this season. “A lot of people have a lot of experience,” Ubl said. “They are helping to introduce newer players and helping everyone to feel more comfortable on the team.”The Spartans also return head coach Amber Liberty. The back-to-back Northern Soccer League Division I Coach of the Year has been a key guide to the Spartans’ success to not only win sectional finals, but also win state playoff games. Saranac has made appearances in the Class B state final four in two of the past three seasons Liberty was at the helm (2021 and 2023). “Amber (Liberty) has always helped us stick together as a team,” Ubl said. “She’s so positive and she keeps us together a lot we do a lot of team building, she just keeps it really positive for us.””She really just understands us all,” Willette said. “She really just wants the best for us, and you can tell she does. She’s always there asking if anything is wrong, she is like a second mom to everybody.”Saranac opens its season on the road in a weekend tournament in Queensbury, New York, before the first NSL game takes place on Friday, Sep. 13, against Ausable Valley High School at 6:30 p.m.