A household of champions
Village of Florida mom and daughter relish soccer championships 20 years apart, By Linda Smith Hancharick Florida Not many mothers and daughters get to share this: Twenty years ago, Joann Ascione was a member of the 1987 Spartans girls’ soccer team, the first state championship team ever in the history of S.S. Seward Institute. Just two weeks ago, her stepdaughter, Sarah Andryshak, a junior midfielder, savored the same jubilation as her generation Spartans brought home the girls’ second state championship in soccer, beating Caledonia-Mumford in overtime, 1-0. “This is just the greatest thing that we can share this,” said Joann (nee Ascione) Andryshak, who was the team’s striker back in 1987. But a lot has changed in two decades. This year, the Spartans moved from Class D to Class C, playing bigger schools than they did just a year ago. Girls’ sports are taken much more seriously now, too. “Twenty years ago, we had fun,” said Joann. “It wasn’t about getting to the states. Now, it’s the focus - getting to the states - and winning.” But she doesn’t see that necessarily as a bad thing. Florida’s fierce soccer season’ “Sarah’s been playing since she was four years old,” she added. “These girls are good. The talent out there is amazing and the level of competition is much greater now. It’s fierce.” Sarah said her team was confident throughout the season, but as the wins stacked up, they just knew they were going to the states. “It was after the section championship that we really knew we could win this,” said Sarah. “We really wanted it. And we worked really hard for it.” That’s for sure. “When it’s soccer season here, it is soccer season. Our town is up for it,” said Joann. And the mom and daughter took note of some similarities with their respective teams. Both had near flawless records: in 1987 the Spartans were 20-0-3; this year, their record was 20-1-2. Twenty years ago, their coach, Judy Mottola, was pregnant and had a son. This year, Seward coach Joe DiMattina’s wife gave birth during the preseason. And maybe it had something to do with inviting the 1987 team to march in this year’s homecoming parade that brought this team good luck. Soccer mom redefined With two competitive athletes in one house, is there any competition between mother and daughter? “No, not really,” said Sarah, glancing at her mom with a smile. “I just wanted them to win,” Joann added. “I was in tears.” Because she knows the feeling. Joann knows what it was like 20 years ago, traveling back from Long Island with the school’s first state championship. She remembers having their bus met in Chester by the police car and fire engine, hearing cars honking their horns as the bus got closer to the village. She remembers the crowd of people waiting at their school to welcome them home. Champions. And now her daughter knows it, too. “It was great,” said Sarah. “The whole town was out there to greet us.” So now both mom and daughter proudly wear their New York State championship gold medals. And while there is no competition between the two, is Sarah looking ahead to next year, her senior year, and the possibility of maybe repeating as champions? Not just yet she wants to savor this moment with her mom.