Opal Curless never gets lonely on a soccer field.
The Mount Desert Island High School standout is constantly marked by several opposing players, but still finds a way to put the ball in the back of the net.
Curless, a junior who has verbally committed to attend Atlantic Coast Conference school Syracuse University, already has scored 16 goals in seven games for the 5-2 Trojans.
“In all the years I’ve coached, she’s the best player I’ve seen,” said Presque Isle coach Ralph Michaud, who is in his 17th season coaching the Wildcats.
“She has size, she’s quick, she can dribble and she can shoot with both feet. She’s smart and she plays the game the right way,” Michaud added. “And she’s a classy kid.”
Michaud compared Curless to Katie DeLong, who played for him and went on to continue her career at the University of Maine.
“Katie was faster but Opal’s foot skills are better,” he said.
Presque Isle senior midfielder Krystal Kingsbury said Curless is the best she has played against.
“The way she handles the ball is impressive. And she’s a good, clean player,” she said.
“She has the best footwork I’ve ever seen and she has the best sportsmanship,” PI senior back-midfielder Megan Seward added.
Curless, who has attended several regional camps, including the Under-14 U.S. National Team camp with 47 other girls in 2012, said she has been pleased with her season to date.
“I think I’ve done pretty well. I’ve gotten better. It just comes with practice. But there is always room for improvement,” said Curless.
MDI coach Tom Savage said Curless is always working to improve her game, even if it’s on her own.
“She is two-fold better than she was last year,” said Savage. “She is always improving. Being able to use both feet is elementary to her. She can do stepovers with both feet ”
A stepover is a move in which the dribbler steps over the ball to freeze the defender and then taps it one way or the other to evade them.
“I’m comfortable hitting the ball with both feet,” said Curless.
Savage also called her unselfish and humble and noted that she has taken on more of a leadership role this season.
“She leads by example,” he said.
Curless plays soccer year-round and commutes to Acton, Massachusetts, in the winter and spring to play for the FC Stars of Massachusetts club team, which was rated one of the top five club programs in Massachusetts by the Massachusetts Club Soccer website.
Curless said being closely marked doesn’t bother her.
“It comes with the game. You just have to take it and do the best you can. You have to learn how to deal with the situation,” said the 5-foot-8 Curless. “You have to figure out how to beat your marker. You have to adjust to the game.”
Old Town senior striker Lauren Martin said Curless is “quick on her feet and has a lot of good moves” which enable her to break free from markers.
Curless has been happy with her team’s start and the Trojans have a favorable schedule down the stretch with six of their last seven games at home. The only road game is at Blue Hill against a George Stevens Academy team they’ve already beaten 12-1.
They will have home rematches with the two teams that beat them: Presque Isle (2-1) and Hermon (4-0).
“Our team is awesome,” said Curless. “We have such a great team this year. Everyone is such a hard worker and we have a lot of skill.”
She is excited about attending Syracuse beginning in the fall of 2016.
The ACC is rated the best conference in the country as evidenced by this week’s NCAA Division I poll.
Four of the nation’s top eight teams are from the ACC: Florida State (2), Virginia (4), Virginia Tech (5) and North Carolina (8). Notre Dame is 14th and Clemson is 21st.
Former John Bapst of Bangor goalkeeper Abby Pyne attends Duke University.
“When I visited Syracuse, I really liked the coaches and the atmosphere. It was the perfect place for me,” said Curless.