A strong start in a new division for RKA

There were times last season Julienne Krause would go home after games and cry.

Mired in a losing streak that eventually hit 24 games, the David A. Stein Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy (RKA, M.S./H.S. 141) girls soccer coach was not sure if she could lead the team anymore.

“I was tempted at the end of last season to give it up,” said Krause, a math teacher at the school. “It started to become such an exercise in futility. It wasn’t something that was fun, it was only frustrating, and it was hard for me to coach.”

A perennial playoff team in the Bronx B-III division, the PSAL moved the Lady Tigers up to the tougher Bronx/Manhattan A-I division before the 2012 season, and they went 1-27 the last two years. Back in Bronx B-III this season, RKA is off to a 4-1 start with three shutouts.

The PSAL “felt we weren’t being challenged enough,” said Krause, who is in her sixth season as coach. “When we first got moved up, I had no say in that. At the end of last season, honestly, the program was falling apart. Who wants to play for a team that never wins a game?”

The 2014 Lady Tigers are young, with seven freshmen and six sophomores on the roster, but three-year starters Samantha Rosette and Delilah Delgado are carrying the team. Rosette, who has verbally committed to the University of Virginia, has scored nine of the team’s 13 goals this season, including both in a 2-1 win over Truman on Sept. 18. Delgado has made 30 saves while allowing only three goals.

Freshman Crystal Medina has chipped in two goals this season, sophomore Hannah Greaves has a goal and an assist and senior Emma Levine has also scored a goal.

Without Rosette in the lineup, RKA lost its first game of the season on Sunday, a 2-0 decision to Christopher Columbus Campus at Randall’s Island.

“The positivity is breeding more positivity and even more of a work ethic,” Krause said. “It’s nice seeing them getting results. They’re enjoying it so much more now.”

Rosette, Delgado and Krause have endured plenty of losses, but all three saw a difference with this year’s team before games even began.

“We were down at the turf at Van Cortlandt Stadium in mid-August, and it was a really hot week, but the girls never complained,” Krause said. “They worked for three hours. Some of them pushed themselves so hard they threw up. With that level of devotion, I knew this was going to be a different season.”

Delgado said she does not have to panic anymore.

“Our team last year lacked endurance and we weren’t fit for the game, so the defenders wouldn’t be in shape to get back and there were always breakouts for one-on-ones with me,” she said. “I feel more confidant and more stability as a goalie. Us being experienced really influenced the younger girls. We’ve struggled, but if you work hard, you won’t have to.”

Rosette, who has been teammates with Delgado since middle school, is trying her best to lead by example.

“All the girls are really, really, really willing to work,” she said. “At our captain’s practices [in the preseason] I would always do sprints off to the side. When I did them this year, everyone came with me and that had never happened before.”

What also had not happened since 2012 was a win. So when RKA defeated South Bronx, 3-0, on Sept. 9 (with Rosette scoring all three goals), there was much rejoicing.

“They were ecstatic,” Krause said. “They all rushed in at the end of the game, screaming excitedly and cheering. And they had huge smiles on their faces.

“It’s nice to not be in over our heads anymore.”

The Lady Tigers were scheduled to play at Lehman on Wednesday, Sept. 24 and at Adlai Stevenson Campus on Tuesday, Sept. 30.