ORANGE — As good as Delaney Parker is at soccer, she could not have done it alone. The same goes for her academic abilities.
Several figures in Parker’s life have propelled her to become one of the best soccer players in western Massachusetts, as well as an honors student at Mahar Regional: her family, coach and teammates.
Her sister Ally helped guide her through her first year at Mahar and her call-up to varsity soccer as a seventh-grader.
“She was always there to push me,” Delaney Parker said. “My first year of school she would help me through things.”
Ally is a Division I field hockey player at Providence College and has four game-winning goals this season. When Delaney was a seventh-grader, her sister quickly taught her that there is no goofing around at the varsity level.
“She made sure I was doing what I am supposed to do,” Delaney Parker said. “Making sure I wasn’t fooling around and staying focused on sports.”
The call to play varsity was surprising for Delaney, who was just a year removed from elementary school recess and snack time.
“It was really scary,” Parker said. “I didn’t know what the level would be like or how intense it would be. But it was exciting and nerve-racking at the same time. But once I got on the field it felt really good because I could compete.”
Delaney soaks up whatever knowledge she can watching her big sister play Division I sports.
“I’ll go to her games often,” Parker said. “It inspires me to do my best.”
Mirroring her accomplishments on the soccer field are her studies. Parker is in all honors classes, and plans to take AP statistics next semester.
Lisa and Scott Parker, her parents, helped her along with her school work from a young age; igniting an interest in math. Lisa Parker is an elementary school math coach.
“Whenever I had hard homework they would really help me with it,” Parker said. “They would make sure I was doing my best and getting good grades.”
With math in her family, Parker is thinking about majoring in something related to numbers in college.
Meanwhile, her teammates continue to get Parker the ball with a chance to use her speed and finishing ability.
Her scoring ability has put her on the cusp of a milestone. She enters the week with 95 career points. She has 30 goals this season alone for the Senators (11-2, 7-1 Pioneer North).
“I love my team,” Parker said. “They’ve always been very supportive of me and always included me.”
Mahar coach Chad Softic has coached Parker for the last three years.
“He’s been really supportive of me,” Parker said. “He’s helped me develop so many skills.”
When Parker first made the jump to varsity she was shy and had difficultly forming bonds with teammates. But that has changed through the years.
Softic does not see a timid and shy girl every day. In fact, he sees the opposite.
“I never know what’s going to come out of her mouth,” Softic said of his assertive forward. “She is piece of work.”
Even with all the individual success, Parker remains coachable and willing to learn.
“She is a great kid,” Softic said. “Very humble and a great teammate. No ego at all.”
Ally scored 100 goals for the Mahar field hockey team, and Delaney isn’t that far removed from the same goal with 64 as a sophomore.
“It would be really cool to get 100 goals too,” Parker said.
While Parker’s skills have progressed, there is always room for improvement.
“I’ve learned to communicate more,” Parker said. “Even though I can still improve with communication, I know when to pass and when to carry.”
When Parker is on the field one thing is obvious – she is much smaller than the other players she goes against.
“It can be intimidating,” Parker said. “But I can slip past them too.”
Fortunately for Parker she is much, much faster than the defenders and she has an accurate shot.
“She is stronger and faster now,” Softic said. “She makes her money in neutral field attacks. The last piece for her is getting in scoring spots when the field gets condensed.”
