Right defender Lillian Raffetto advances the ball
against Oceanside. (Photo by Ed Piper)
La Jolla High soccer coach Kristin Jones spoke of senior Lillian Raffetto's value to her team. "Lillian is playing right defender. She has played different positions her four years on varsity," said Jones, interviewed before the Dec. 16 game at San Dieguito.
Besides Lillian's versatility in playing wherever "Jonesy" has needed to put her, Raffetto is providing leadership in anchoring down the defense, where she is one of the last cogs in front of goalkeeper Helen Lee.
Jones reviewed the now-defender's positions through her four years at La Jolla. In the ninth grade, "Lil" played forward and defense. In the last two seasons, she has played center midfielder. "Everything went through her," commented her coach, on the latter position.
Raffetto is one of three team captains named by Jones. Interestingly, she is the only senior. The other captains are sophomore midfielder Olivia Riley and junior forward Phoebe Riley. It is somewhat rare in high school sports to have younger captains. But soccer is a bit of a different animal from the traditional sports of football, basketball, and baseball, due to the prominence of non-school club teams, where younger talent has the opportunity to develop earlier. Some of the girls started playing soccer at age 6.
Copyright 2014 Ed Piper
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