KICK START: Hun School girls’ soccer player Allison Cowan, left, kicks the ball in 2018 action. Senior Cowan proved to be a spark for Hun last fall in her first campaign with the program. Hun, which is being led by new head coach Jenn Barrett, kicks off its 2019 season by hosting Ewing on September 7. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

As Jenn Barrett takes the helm of the Hun School girls’ soccer team this fall, she is emphasizing a holistic approach.

“My main message is that better people make better athletes and I am really working on shifting the focus to being better than yesterday,” said Barrett, who served as an assistant coach for the program the last two seasons and is succeeding Joanna Hallac.

“It is putting in your best effort and eventually things will fall into place. It is also working on leadership skills.”

So far, Barrett is getting a good effort from her players. “They are great kids; that is one of the main reasons I am doing it,” said Barrett, who played for the Lawrenceville School girls’ soccer team in the late 1990s and continued her career for women’s squad at Muhlenberg College.

“Since I have been here with them for the two seasons, I wanted to step up and take that job. They have been responding wonderfully. They have been so supportive from the second I became head coach. I had to interview for the position and some of them spoke on my behalf. It is coming together really well.”

Barrett is looking for the trio of sophomore Olivia D’Auerlio, senior Nicole Angelini, and senior Allison Cowan to come up big offensively.

“Olivia is very good and a good option at forward,” said Barrett. “Nicole is going to be huge, she will be an attacking mid or a forward. Ally is so focused, you wouldn’t even know she is also a lacrosse player by the way she plays soccer. She is a wonderful kid and is definitely one of our best players.”

While Angelini and Cowan may see some time in midfield, Barrett believes that two new faces, freshman Riley Hayes and junior transfer Chloe Hill, can make an impact in that spot.

“Riley is very good, she plays for PDA (Players Development Academy) North; they just won the
national club championship,” said Barrett.

“Chloe played for Council Rock in Pennsylvania; she is definitely a midfielder we are looking toward.”

On defense, junior Amanda Jenkins and freshman Maya Zuruld figure to lead the way.

“Amanda is our center back, she is very quiet but shows wonderful leadership,” said Barrett, who is also looking at Hayes and Hill on defense. “She just goes in for everything, she is very consistent, Maya will also be back there.”

Junior transfer goalie Grace Crowe is already showing consistency.

“Grace is awesome; she is tall, I think she is 5’10,” said Barrett. “She is super active and has great leadership skills. She plays for PDA South.”

With Hun, which went 4-11 last fall, kicking off the 2019 season by hosting Ewing on September 7, Barrett believes that focusing on intangibles can lead to a memorable season for the Raiders.

“I think the camaraderie, enthusiasm, hard work, and grit are extremely important for us to have success,” said Barrett, who is enthusiastic about having Julie Davis, a Hun soccer head coach in the 1990s and longtime girls’ basketball assistant coach, and Brynn Hansson, a former Wesleyan University player and assistant coach, joining her staff.

“It is about having the ‘we ahead of me’ mentality. They are really doing a great job of that so far. It is knowing your role and whatever your role is, doing it to the best of your ability.”