SALEM– After a couple of down seasons in recent years, things are looking bright this fall for the Salem State women’s soccer team. At 9-6-1 on the season, the Vikings have surpassed their win totals from the previous four years and placed themselves in a good position to make a run in the upcoming MASCAC Tournament.
What makes the turnaround season even more impressive for the Vikings is that they’re receiving key contributions from talented freshmen like Peabody native Rebecca Sabino.
The team’s backup goalie, Sabino has seen action in nine games for Salem State. Sabino has started six of those nine contests, tallying 40 saves for a 75.5% save percentage.
The Peabody product made her first collegiate start on September 9 in a scoreless tie against UMass Dartmouth. She recorded her first college win on September 12 when the Vikings defeated Southern Maine in a tight 2-1 battle. Thus far, Sabino has posted a 4-2-1 record with two shutouts.
Knowing that she’s been able to make an impact on the team as a freshman, Sabino’s content with the way her first season as a Viking has developed.
“I’m really happy with how this year turned out,” Sabino, a nursing major, said. “I’ve been competing a lot with junior goalie Amanda Backe. The competition between us at goalie has been really good. She’s helped make me a better player. It’s great that I’ve been able to get playing time.”
A three-year varsity player for coach Dennis Desroches at Peabody High, Sabino was an integral piece of a Tanners lineup that reached the Division 1 North state tournament in each of her three seasons.
Sabino recalls a close-knit Tanners team that relied on its camaraderie to reach success.
“I was very close with a lot of the girls,” Sabino said. “I played on travel teams with most of them. Being able to play soccer with them for so many years was a really great experience.”
She also recalls a high level of competition in her days wearing the powder blue and white Peabody uniform. That level of competition, Sabino acknowledged, served to help prepare her for what she’s playing against at the college stage.
“I became close with the girls I competed with in other towns,” Sabino said. “A lot of those girls went on to play college soccer as well. The competition I faced in high school was really good competition.”
Now at Salem State, Sabino has the added bonus of being close to her family. With Salem State’s campus next door to Peabody, Sabino’s family has had the opportunity to watch the freshman goalie continue her soccer career.
“I love being close to home,” Sabino said. “My parents come to every game, even the away games. They make every effort to come to games as long as they don’t interfere with their work schedules. My past coaches have also been able to come watch me play. It’s amazing being able to see them.”
After a tough start to the season, in which the Vikings went 1-4-1 in their first six games, the team has kicked it into gear and turned the year around. Salem State’s 8-2 in its last 10 games and 4-2 against MASCAC opponents.
“We’ve really learned how to communicate throughout the season,” Sabino said. “We had a tough start at the beginning of the season. We’ve really learned how to communicate as a team and rely on our teammates. If one of us makes a mistake our teammates always have our back to help us succeed.”
As the conclusion of the regular season looms, the Vikings are aiming to end on a high note and carry momentum into the MASCAC Tournament which kicks off on October 31.
In order to do so, Sabino said, the Vikings will need to continue communicating well while focusing on playing their own brand of soccer.
“We need to make sure that we’re communicating,” Sabino said. “We have to focus on playing our game and not let ourselves fall into playing another team’s style. We have to focus on how we play and finish our opportunities.”
The Vikings end their regular season on Saturday afternoon when they visit MASCAC rival Westfield State.
