IAC GIRLS SOCCER: IMPROVED NUMBERS, NEW ASSISTANT COACH HAS SVEC'S LELJEDAL UPBEAT AS 2025 SEASON APPROACHES (12 PHOTOS) (2025-08-22)

By TIM BIRNEY
Tioga County Sports Report
CANDOR — Improved numbers and a new assistant coach has second-year SVEC girls soccer coach Michael Leljedal upbeat as his team continues preparation for the upcoming 2025 season.

"It's so good to be back on the field, I'm glad to be back.

"Our numbers are all right actually," said Leljedal. "We have 14 registered, and we have two verbal commitments to get us up to 16. Hopefully, they get started next week and can be ready by game two.

"I'm happy with 16, but I think 17 or 18 is ideal, but we only had 11 last year and anything is better than that.

"Our modified numbers are low. I think we're at 10, but it's tough when you're in an area where volleyball is so dominant," added Leljedal. "I feel like we're fighting for players."

Leljedal said Aaron Decker is a new assistant, who brings more than 20 years of experience.

"It's nice to add him, not only for the girls' sake, but for my sake, too, as a young coach learning from him, seeing the things he does and the approach he takes to every practice — it's been really beneficial," said Leljedal.

"It's nice because he can work with the defense or midfield, while I work with the forwards, or vice versa," added Leljedal. "I didn't have that luxury last year, so it's been really nice."

Leljedal said the focus of the preseason has been getting touches.

"We have a really nice balance of talent this year," he said. "We have five or six girls who play year-round, a few girls who play soccer but only for the team, and a couple of new girls.

"So really, the focus has been getting our foot on the ball," he noted. "We've been working a lot on communications, which they've made great progress in, and short passing.

"We've been doing a lot of short-sighted games, just getting everybody's foot on the ball. 

"Our philosophy has been getting them into 3-v-3 or 4-v-4 scrimmages," added Leljedal. "The more they have their foot on the ball in game-like scenarios, the better they're going to be once we get into the first game."

SVEC opener is set for Thursday at Whitney Point.

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IN PHOTO 1: SVEC girls soccer coach Michael Leljedal. ... PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.

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