NEW BETHLEHEM, Pa. (EYT/D9) — At the end of her freshman season on the pitch for the Redbank Valley girls soccer team, Lia Hageter sat down and studied film.
She didn’t particularly like what she saw out of herself, especially late in the campaign.
“There were a lot of moments where I was like, ‘What the heck am I doing?’” Hageter said. “‘Get in there!’”
(Pictured above, Lia Hageter turned in a solid freshman campaign for the Redbank Valley girls soccer team last season/submitted photo)
Hageter became timid as the season wore on. She didn’t know why that happened. Just that it did.
The aggressiveness that carried the forward through a successful early part of the season seemed to have faded away.
“Last year I started off really great,” she said, before pausing to let out a chuckle, “not to sound like I’m bragging, but I was doing pretty good in the beginning. But I felt like I just started to back down, especially toward the end of the season. There were definitely a lot of those moments where I would back off and let them get to the ball first. I want to be the one who gets to the ball first. I definitely want to step up and just go face-first, head on, sacrifice my face and body and do what I have to do.”
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Hageter still turned in a solid freshman season for the Bulldogs, leading the team with 14 goals to go with two assists.
With speed and strength as her main weapons, Hageter can be a handful for opponents.
With her renewed resolve to not hold anything back, her production could soar this season for a Redbank Valley team that has a plethora of talent.
Last year, Hageter and incoming senior Ally Shoemaker formed quite the 1-2 punch. Shoemaker added 12 goals and four assists.
The two developed and even stronger bond during track and field season.
Redbank Valley girls soccer coach Michael Dawson is also eager to see the tandem get to work.
“They both excelled last season,” Dawson said “Ally and her should have another strong year this season as well. I’m looking forward to seeing them connect a bit more together to create a lot of chances for us this season.”
Hageter is already chomping at the bit to get started.
“I’m really excited,” she said. “One of my friends (Bella Orr) is a really good midfielder, defensive-mid. We keep talking about how we just can’t wait for the season.”
Hageter has always had a soccer ball not far from her toe.
She started playing when she was four.
“Whenever you can start playing,” she said.
As the years rolled by, the sport became more and more important to her. She gravitated toward offense, even though her older sister, Teja, was a standout defensive player at Redbank Valley.
Teja is five years older than Lia, who is the youngest of three girls in the Hageter family. Eldest sister, Marissa, is nine years older than Lia and she also played soccer at a high level for the Bulldogs.
“I don’t really remember watching (Marissa) play that much,” Lia said. “She was good. I really remember watching my older sister, Teja. She was an amazing defensive player. I can’t really relate to the position she played, but she was amazing at it. I just want to be as good as her.”
To accomplish that goal, Hageter is focused on working more on her finesse.
(Lia Hageter)
Speed and brawn can only get you so far, she figures.
“I’ve always just like plowed through people,” Hageter said, laughing. “I want to work on my foot skills so when there’s a time where I can’t just go through people, I can stop and think what moves would be best for this situation and do them.”
Track and field has helped her soccer skills in a variety of ways.
Hageter ran legs on the 4×400 and 4×800 relays. She also did the 300 hurdles and the pole vault.
The hurdles and the pole vault have aided her in being less timid. Those are two events not for the faint of heart.
“I’m still working on the pole vault — I’m not very good at that, so I want to get better,” she said. “I’d always see the pole vaulters and be like, ‘I could never do that.’ But I wanted to try it because it’s not impossible for them, then it’s possible for me.”
Hageter said she doesn’t feel particularly fast when she is bolting toward the net.
But those around her say otherwise.
She takes them at their word.
“My parents say I’m fast,” Hageter said, “and I listen to them.”
Her parents also recognize another huge gift Hageter has off the pitch.
A singing voice and natural music talent.
When Hageter was in the second grade, she performed in a production of The Sound of Music. In the fourth grade, she played Wendy in a performance of Peter Pan for the Clarion Center of the Arts.
In recent years, she has shied away from taking the stage. She sings the National Anthem at sporting events for the school, still dabbles with the drums and the piano, but has instead put most of her energy into sports.
“I like it. I definitely need to do it more,” Hageter said. “My parents definitely want me to do more, but I just don’t know. I like focusing on my sports. I can’t be shy, either, so I need to start doing that as well.”
Hageter doesn’t read music. She plays the piano by ear — a rare talent.
“I’ve played the piano in the past, but I don’t go by the notes,” she said. “I just base it off the sound of what I hear.”
She uses those same improvisational skills on the pitch.
Hageter hopes to use them even more effectively this season for Redbank Valley.
“Just knowing you have to put the ball in the goal and knowing you can’t do that without the help of your teammates — there’s no ‘I’ in team,” Hageter said. “That’s what’s so fun about it. You depend on your teammates to get you where you need to be then it’s up to you to finish it.”
Redbank Valley, Keystone, and Union/A-C Valley sports coverage on Explore and D9Sports.com is brought to you by Heeter Lumber.
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