Jackie Kane fights for the ball against Nichols. (photo by Jeff Barnes of Metro Source)

The knock on Jackie Kane early in her career was that she was very inconsistent - that has all change this season.

The senior has been one of the best players on the Mt. Mercy Academy soccer team and she is showing the form that made her the Metro Source Newcomer of the Year two years ago.

"Her motor has not stop all season," stated John Glose after a recent game. "She has only scored one goal so far. But, she has put constant pressure on the other team and she has had a great year."

The stats only say one goal on the season, but you wouldn't know that by all the chances she's had over the past couple of games.

In their 2-1 win over Mt. St. Mary earlier this week, Kane, at times, dominated the play and she should have been rewarded with a few goals and even a couple of assists.

But, lack of finishing has hurt they entire team and it almost cost them in their win over the Thunder.

"I think the girls are pushing maybe a little bit to much," stated Glose. "They are so antsy to get that goal, that maybe they are rushing their shots to much. But, we are going to keep working hard in practice and they are going to come."

Kane had numerous chances against the Thunder, including a wonderful chance early in the first half.

As she came down the right side, Kane easily beat the defender and fired the ball on goal. The ball turned just slightly and just missed the far post by inches.

That was just one chance of many.

Later in the first half she beat her defender and fired the ball, but it hit the side of the net.

In the second half, Kane was dominant again and she had three good scoring chances - only to be denied.

Around the pitch:

While Kane and Rebecca Alvira get a lot of attention from opposing coaches when it comes to game planning, the Magic are a very deep team and they showed it against MSM when Glose would sub five to six girls in at a time.

Because they are so deep, Glose can give him starters some important minutes of rest and the play doesn't drop off at all.

"We have a real deep team, everybody can play," explained Glose. "I'm hoping we can wear teams down by subbing girls and keeping them fresh."

Freshman Haley O'Donnell has been a bright spot on the team this year and her hard work in practice finally paid off when she scored her first goal of her career against MSM.

It was a celebration not seen before as she jumped in the air as the excitement was felt by everybody in attendance.

""Haley is just a freshman and she is working really hard," Glose said. "She deserved that goal, she worked for it."

Selections for the Metro Source/Sun All-Metro team will take place at the end of October. If you would like to see someone nominated for the top 11 girls in Western New York and also for Newcomer of the Year, Player of the Year, Most Improved and the Andrew Maisano Leadership Award, send all nominations to mondesko@metrowny.com.

This is the fourth year for the banquet and this year is will be held at Creekside in Cheektowaga.