Twenty-two years ago, Holli Mulholland pulled off something special: a state championship in her very first season coaching the Shenendehowa girls’ soccer team. But here’s the kicker, the gut-punch regret she carries from that incredible run: “I probably could have enjoyed that a little bit more.” That’s a wild thought, right? Now, with three first-year coaches leading programs into the state semifinals this week, her words echo with a whole new meaning.
That Storied Tradition and the Weight of the Job
Mulholland wasn’t walking into just any program back in 2004. She took the reins from Jan Federice, a legend who practically built Shenendehowa soccer. Federice, now in the New York State Soccer Hall of Fame, racked up 277 wins, shared a state title in ’92, dominated with nine Section 2 championships, and made six state title game appearances over 17 years. Talk about big shoes to fill! Mulholland remembered feeling it all. “Do everything in your power every day to give the kids the best experience you can and maintain that tradition of excellence.” She even confessed to the “self-inflicted pressure” that can crush you. Her answer? Pure “tunnel vision.” Taking it “one day at a time,” always trying to “build the culture within the team.” She’s straight up about it, too: a new coach’s early success doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It’s built on the groundwork of coaches before them, the year-round grind of club players, and a team culture ready for new leadership.
The Unlikely Hero and a Ride Into the Semifinals
That 2004 state final gave Mulholland a lesson she still teaches: embrace your role. Shenendehowa was without Ashley Moore, “arguably our best” player, who was off at a U.S. national team camp. Who stepped up? Deana Semenza, who hadn’t even seen minutes in the postseason until then. She came off the bench and hammered home the game-winner. Still gives Mulholland “goosebumps to this day,” she said, remembering Semenza sprinting in, ready to “do her job to the best of her ability.” That story about understanding how your role changes as the season goes on? It’s gospel for her. Fast forward to this season, and Mulholland is clearly taking her own advice. The Mustangs just blasted Cicero-North Syracuse 5-1 in the Class AAA regional final, with Lillyann Palmer dropping a hat trick. Mulholland got emotional on the bus ride to that game, calling her current squad “a fun, kind, hardworking group.” Shenendehowa knows how to get here, too, hitting the state final in 2021 and the semifinals in 2023.
Now, Scott Geis with the Bethlehem girls, Dylan Martin with the Averill Park boys, and Jared McAneny with the Greenville boys are all facing that same wild ride in their first year. They’ve inherited programs with their own legacies and expectations, and they’re looking to hoist that trophy. Will they remember to soak it all in, win or lose? Mulholland’s story is a powerful reminder.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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