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STAMFORD, Conn. Freshmen with boatloads of talent and potential arrive on high school sports team all the time. Rarely do they get to play. Its even more rare that they lead a championship-caliber team in scoring.
Freshman forward Jess Laszlo has emerged as the premier offensive threat for the Westhill High School soccer team. How much of a threat? Laszlo has scored nine of Westhills 14 goals so far this season all in just five games.
So how is a 14-year-old able to light up the soccer pitch at such a high level?
I get asked this kind of a lot, Laszlo said shyly after a recent game. Ive been playing soccer for probably 10 years. I just work and practice. If you dont do that you cant expect to get better. Soccer is my life.
Laszlo also has soccer in her blood. Her father, Zoltan Laszlo, was a member of the Hungarian U-18 national team. Her older brother played semi-pro soccer.
The expectations are skyrocketing, and Westhill head coach Dave Flower has sounded like a broken record after games, with Laszlos name always coming up. Just two years removed from a state championship and a year from finishing as runner-up in the conference and state, Laszlo is setting high goals for herself and the team.
Im here to score goals and Im here to help out in any way I can, Laszlo said. We have a phenomenal team. Were here to get into FCIACs and states and to win in the finals.
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