Sophomore helps lead Mustangs toward districts

EAST COUNTY — When she was 5 years old, Sophia Falco looked forward to chasing the soccer ball around a seemingly endless field alongside her friends.

If she was lucky, she might even get to kick the ball once or twice.

She grew up with the sport. Her mother coached her older sister’s soccer team. Falco remembers watching the games anxiously from the sidelines. She couldn’t wait to play.

“I was always around soccer,” Falco said. “My parents had us try sports when we were little, and I started to love it.”

Now 15 years old and a Lakewood Ranch High sophomore, Falco won’t settle for less then a few goals during a Mustangs varsity soccer game. She led the Mustangs into the final four last year, and now, she and her undefeated team are headed toward districts.

As a child, she played offense and defense. She’s comfortable on any part of the field but lately finds her stride in the striker position.

A striker typically scores goals or orchestrates goals between other offensive players. Falco is in the business of scoring points — a position that could turn the team player into a ball hog, she said.

But being a striker hasn’t changed her preference for passing and working as a unit.

“Soccer depends on everyone to do their part,” Falco said. “I like that. I’m not just scoring or trying to win for me. I’m trying for my team. We count on each other.”

Last year, she scored about 15 goals. So far this season she has scored 21 throughout the team’s season of 18 wins and two tie games.

She’s one of the top two scorers on the team, rivaled only by a senior who has made 26 goals. And she has a chance to catch her before the season is over.

Falco has known that senior her entire life — her sister, Talia.

Sister act
Although she isn’t someone who enjoys coming in second, Sophia Falco is “a little OK” with taking a backseat to her sister.

“I’m competitive, so I don’t want anyone to outscore me,” Falco said, smiling. “I guess it’s kind of OK for Talia to beat me. But I’m always trying to catch her.”

Talia Falco, an 18-year-old senior who recently landed a track and field scholarship with Kent State University, is the Lady Mustangs’ other striker.

Both girls also run track at Lakewood Ranch High.

The sisters enjoy the friendly competition with each other on and off the field. At home, they brag to each other about scoring more goals than the other in a game, Falco said.

“It’s a lot of fun to play together on the field now because we’ve played together our whole lives,” Talia Falco said.

The competition and sibling rivalry amuses Coach Guy Virgilio, who often orchestrates races between the girls during weekly practices. Falco’s interest in playing alongside her sister surprised Virgilio.

“I definitely didn’t see this combination coming,” Virgilio said. “But it works.”

Sisters playing side-by-side has its perks.

Falco knows where her sister will be on the field before she does. It’s sister intuition, she said.

“They have this connection on the field,” Virgilio said. “They seem to know where the other is going to be before they’re there. They’re competitive, but they love and support each other.”

This is the sisters’ first year playing side-by-side in the goal-scoring positions. Last year, Talia Falco played the wide, or mid-field, position. She scaled the field to help both offense and defense.

Although she’s the older sister who has been on the varsity team for three years, Talia Falco admires her sister’s speed and ball-control skills. Both sisters say their skills complement each other’s.

“She keeps getting better,” Talia Falco said.