Chesnes developing as a leader for Falcons girls soccer team

JEFFERSON — What do you get when you have a freshman with sprinter's speed, high soccer IQ and the experience of playing on a club team?

For the Jefferson Falcons, the answer is Charleigh Chesnes, and she is just the type of player the Falcons girls soccer team needed to build their team around.

The freshman scored four goals Tuesday night as the Falcons defeated Lakeside 7-0 in a Chagrin Valley Lake Division match to snap a four-game losing streak at Falcon Pride Stadium.

Chesnes said she had scored three times in a game before, but not four.

She has 10 goals on the season now, and is a big reason Jefferson has hopes of a winning season.

Aside from her high school team, Chesnes plays for SPIRE Academy.

High School soccer in the area is not quite the same as club, but Chesnes said that doesn't bother her the least.

"I still enjoy it," she said with a smile. "It's not as competitive as SPIRE, but I still have fun with the girls."

The Falcons are having fun, but many of them are learning as they go, and because they're winning a little more often this season.

After winning their first two matches of the season, Jefferson lost four straight, before getting back into the win column Tuesday night in improving to 3-4 overall, 1-3 in the conference.

The Falcons have multiple players either on a club team or travel soccer.

It puts Chesnes in a spot where, like it or not, she's called on to be a leader.

Sharing what she knows about the game, though, is something she's enjoying.

"I watched a lot of the World Cup this summer," she said. "I think it's just from how many years I've played to how much I've seen of soccer compared to the other girls. I definitely help out on the field and tell them where they need to be, that sort of thing."

Jefferson coach Brian Kereky said Chesnes is learning to be more vocal, and knows where to be and what she needs to be doing at all times.

"Charleigh is very quiet," he said. "Personally, I rely on her because I've coached her for a long time and I know what she can do. She does a wonderful job and she's been the most consistent player I've had."

Having Chesnes is a big help, but the coach said that there's been some other positives this fall, namely having more players out than any year in recent memory.

What the team wants most, though is a winning season, something Jefferson has not had in quite a while, maybe ever. A year ago, the Falcons won just one game, but Chesnes said the team believes they can make a dramatic improvement this season.

"I think we can have a winning record from here on out if we play the way we're capable of," she said. "So long as we play together and don't have any injuries or anything like that."

Kereky believes the team can as well, but the coach also is looking at the bigger picture.

"I don't think we've ever had one," he said of a winning season. "I think we won six games in one year. Hopefully, we can do it, but winning is not everything. It's about bringing the girls back and getting new girls out, keep building the program."

Jefferson will be back at home for Conneaut tonight, before heading to Pymatuning Valley Saturday.

Lakeside, which fell to 2-6 overall, 0-5, is scheduled to play Tuesday at Conneaut.