Rosina Callisto thought her days of playing side by side with Ellen Williams on the soccer pitch were finished when the two were in 10th grade.

Callisto, who went to Rye Neck (N.Y.) High School, decided to stick with soccer back in high school, while Williams, her club teammate at the time, made the move to focus solely on field hockey at Mamaroneck (N.Y.) High School.

Callisto ended up going to Syracuse to play for the women’s soccer team. Coincidentally, Williams came to SU to play field hockey. But during the summer and following some persuasion from Callisto, Williams decided to switch from Division-I field hockey to Division-I soccer.

‘There were a few girls on our club team who had left to go play field hockey, and I knew she was really enjoying it, and I knew she was a really good field hockey player, so I didn’t think anything of it until this summer really,’ Callisto said.

And although Williams has yet to see action in a game, the junior midfielder has continued to show growth after making the transition. She’s especially enjoyed playing alongside her old teammate Callisto, a junior midfielder, even if it’s just been on the practice field. Syracuse (6-5-3, 5-3 Big East) plays its final two home matches of the regular season this weekend, squaring off against South Florida on Friday at 7 p.m. and Marquette on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Orange is one win away from clinching a Big East tournament berth.

The first time Callisto and Williams played on the same soccer field was back in middle school — but as rivals. After Callisto’s team thrashed Williams’ team in a few matches, Williams thought it would be better to join the winning side.

Fast-forward four years and the two played together again this summer with a club team, the Westchester Flames. Callisto was impressed with what Williams brought to the table.

As a result, Callisto badgered her to switch from field hockey to soccer. Although it took some time, Williams decided a move had to be made.

‘She just made it seem like a realistic thing for me to do, and she just kept pushing me,’ Williams said. ‘(Callisto said) ‘Hey, have you filled out the registration forms?’ and kept pushing me until I finally just agreed to it. I’m really glad that I did.’

Callisto notified SU head coach Phil Wheddon before the season started that Williams could be a solid addition to the Orange. So far, Wheddon has liked what Williams has offered, even if she hasn’t done it in a game.

And that doesn’t surprise Callisto’s dad, Michael Callisto. He coached his daughter and Williams almost all their lives, including this summer. Although Williams had to shake some rust at the start of the summer, he was amazed at what the defender was capable of near the tail end of the season.

‘Game by game, practice after practice, I mean she had a very good season. Toward the end, she was very strong. In the back, she was very dominant,’ Callisto said. ‘And considering within two months she did very well, especially for someone who didn’t play in a very long time.’

In fact, Callisto has no doubt that if Williams stuck with soccer throughout high school, playing for any Division-I soccer program was easily within reach. Callisto said Williams was able to stop other future Division-I players and showed she belonged among the best in her area.

He said Williams was a great one-on-one defender who knew how to use her height and athleticism to her ability. That’s also why he said he was upset to see her focus on field hockey back in high school.

Now Williams is back where she belongs, but Williams said playing field hockey gave her mental toughness and helped her develop as a person. Williams is still best friends with many players on the team.

For now, though, Williams is just focused on getting better. She said the coaching staff has been patient and Wheddon has treated her like any other player.

Wheddon said whenever Williams makes it onto the field, just like everyone else, she will have earned it.

‘I don’t think you can make a jump to a Big East sport without having competed for a season, so just like everyone else she has to earn the right to travel and get on the field,’ Wheddon said.

Although it’s unlikely Williams will earn the right this weekend against either South Florida or Marquette, both she and Callisto can’t wait for when they can take the field together again.

It will be like their days on the Larchmont Panthers, coached by Callisto’s dad.

‘It’s going to be really fun,’ Williams said. ‘It won’t feel weird, that’s for sure. It’ll feel normal, and I’m really looking forward to it actually.’

dgproppe@syr.edu

 

Published on October 12, 2011 at 12:00 pm