Streetsboro sophomore Madelyn Genovese a natural in the midfield

PALMYRA TWP. — Madelyn Genovese had a strong freshman campaign on the back line last season.

Returning to her natural position in the midfield Friday, Genovese was even better.

The sophomore had a hand in all four goals as Streetsboro captured its 2022 opener against host Southeast.

Genovese, who had an assist 16 seconds into the contest, then scored two goals in the final 10 minutes of the opening half before completing her hat trick in the 52nd minute, acknowledged that she was thrilled to be back in the midfield.

"It's just super fun," Genovese said. "I love being able to connect with my forwards and midfielders. It's a special feeling when you can string eight, nine passes together and get something out of it and it feels really good."

Streetsboro coach Ryan Willard encourages Madelyn Genovese to attack

As Genovese noted, she relishes the pass.

But on Friday, Rockets coach Ryan Willard challenged her to shoot.

"She's very unselfish," Willard said. "She wants to get her teammates involved and you got to love that in a player, but she's going to need to be a scorer for this team."

Genovese's first goal, in the 32nd minute, was a game-changer.

It doubled what was, to that point, the slimmest of leads (at 1-0).

It was also an impressive goal in that the Streetsboro sophomore brought down a Southeast goal kick near midfield and wove her way through a thicket of defenders into the box before putting the ball in the back of the net.

"We were yelling at her, we're like, 'You need to attack,' and after we had that conversation with her, she literally scored less than a minute later," Willard said. "We knew what she was capable of. It was just a matter of her doing it."

Nine minutes later, Genovese surged down the right side of the field and, with a defender on her back, sent a liner into the net to give the Rockets a 3-0 halftime lead.

"I was kind of trying for the deeper shots earlier, but my coaches just said dribble," Genovese said. "So I listened to them and I practice a lot in my free time, so why not do it in a game?"

Twelve minutes into the second half, Genovese completed her hat trick as she used her upper body to turn freshman Addison Mrakovich's cross into a slick goal.

Perhaps most impressive, Genovese's three goals came after her first shot of the afternoon was a bit of a dud, as she sent a dribbler wide of the net on a golden fast-break opportunity.

"I like to play with the mindset that I'll mess up, but I forget about it," Genovese said. "I'm a very forgetful person. Like I even forget good stuff I do, bad stuff I do, and I just look forward to the next play."

Madelyn Genovese's success the result of hard work

Genovese's hat trick didn't just happen.

Indeed, in the days leading up to Friday's opener, Willard noticed something about the sophomore.

"She probably watched 10 times the amount of film already this year compared to anybody else on the team," Willard said. "She just wants to be the best."

Genovese refused to pat herself on the back, however.

As far as the sophomore is concerned, film study comes with her position.

"Center mid is the most important awareness position on the field and you need to put in the work off the field, just to help your teammates and yourself on the field," Genovese said. "It helps a lot."

Still, per Willard, there is something special about the passion Genovese has for the game.

That was something the longtime Streetsboro coach also noticed after a challenging scrimmage against Copley.

"Afterwards, she came off and she was like, 'I need to train harder,'" Willard said. "[That] was her response after because she knew that she was getting knocked around. Copley has phenomenal players, like some of the best in the state, but that's where she wants to be."

Addison Mrakovich has golden debut for Streetsboro

Genovese had a stellar partner in crime Friday in Mrakovich.

Two of the Rockets' four goals Friday came courtesy of a Genovese-Mrakovich connection, as the sophomore found the freshman for their first score and the freshman returned the favor for their final tally.

"I think we have a really great connection off the field," Genovese said. "It's really fun to play with her. I love it."

It was hard not to love Mrakovich's debut, especially the shot she fired just 16 seconds into her high school career.

Perched on the left side of the box after receiving the ball from Genovese, Mrakovich fired a perfect shot to the top shelf, just over the leaping keeper.

"We weren't surprised. I mean we see it in practice," Willard said. "She attacks the ball so well. To have a freshman who's willing to attack the ball like that is awesome. You don't get too many of those."

Not that Mrakovich was the only freshman to excel as Zoie Dunn played an effective first game at center back.

"She was really solid back there," Willard said. "To ask her to go out and be kind of the leader of the defense as a freshman, she stepped up and did a really good job."

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Streetsboro sophomore Madelyn Genovese a natural in the midfield