All Frank DeNunzio wanted was competitive soccer this year, but the Thomas Edison girls’ soccer team far exceeded its coach’s wishes.
Not only did the Inventors make the PSAL ‘B’ playoffs, they advanced to the quarterfinals in its first varsity season.
“We just wanted to be competitive and we worked so hard in preseason with a lot of running and training,” said DeNunzio, the TimesLedger PSAL Girls’ Soccer Coach of the Year. “It’s just been a dream season.”
After taking its lumps as a club team last season, Thomas Edison lost the first two league games by 2-1 scores to Jamaica and Van Buren.
The Inventors didn’t lose again until falling to powerhouse Tilden in the quarterfinals.
Last year Edison was one of four new teams in the PSAL that were granted unofficial status this season, joining Robert F. Wagner, Baruch and Choir Academy.
The team got its start when a small but dedicated group of girls petitioned for a team and DeNunzio, a physical education teacher at the school, handed the petition, which had about 30 signatures, over to Athletic Director Frank Roberts.
Roberts and Edison Principal Anne Haight gave the girls the OK to start a team.
DeNunzio knew he had to start from scratch and used many of the same drills he used to coach the Levittown Hurricane Under-11 girls’ team in the Long Island Junior Soccer League.
DeNunzio didn’t shy away from tough competition and as a club team taking on established programs, including several ‘A’ division teams, Edison went 3-10-2 before making the jump to the varsity level.
After 40 girls turned out for tryouts, DeNunzio slashed the roster to 22, which includes 13 new underclassmen and the team made tremendous strides in its first season.
“It’s like a rush. This year is totally different, it’s like a dream,” said Zujenis Pico, one of about 30 girls to lobby administration at Edison to field a soccer team two years ago. “I couldn’t believe we made the playoffs.”
