By Ken Hansard
Ellie Damico, senior center back and captain for the Andover Central soccer team, has a lot to be excited about in her final stint as a Jaguar. She has already committed to Fort Hays State to play soccer next year. She plays for a team that finished last season 15-3-1 and returns a strong nucleus, and she gets to play one last time with a special group of girls, a group that this year will include her younger sister, freshman Gia.
Damico has been recognized with All-League and All-State honors during her time with the Jags, but those awards are secondary for her. What is most important to Damico is the legacy she will be leaving, “I’m most proud of my team for creating school history for our girls’ soccer program.”
After a disappointing loss to Bishop Carroll in last season’s substate, Damico and her teammates would like to build on what they have done by taking the next step and finishing their season at state. To that end, Damico spent a lot of time in the off-season improving her game, “I worked on my 1-v-1’s defensively. I also worked on being able to read and time my tackles better. Last year I found myself being a bit too over eager and jumping the gun too quickly in some cases. This year I hope to be more composed.”
Damico also knows that much of the Jags’ success will hinge on her leadership, “As a center back I can see the whole field. Our attack starts with our backline. My job is to relay information to my teammates and keep our backline organized to protect the goal. As a captain, it’s my role to have a positive impact on the team both on and off the field.”
Damico is considering majoring in human health and performance, which she hopes will lead to a career in Physical Therapy.
