North Broward Prep’s Leah Finkelman is Broward girls’ soccer 4A-2A player of the year
Leah Finkelman started playing soccer when she was 5 1/2 years old.
When did she have that moment of realization that she wanted to pursue soccer long-term?
“Maybe when I turned 6,” Finkelman said. “Right away, I knew I loved the sport, and once I hit middle school, I knew I really had a passion.”
Her passion is matched by her skill. Finkelman, a junior and the Miami Herald’s Class 4A-2A Broward Girls’ Soccer Player of the Year, almost single-handedly carried the North Broward Prep Eagles to their best season in school history.
Finkelman, who is committed to play soccer at the University of Pennsylvania, scored 34 of North Broward Prep’s 66 goals and added 10 assists for good measure as a young Eagles team went 16-5-2 and made their first-ever state semifinal appearance.
“This year was hard work,” Finkelman said. “I had a goal. I really wanted to reach states, if we could, and I think with the team we had, I realized that I was gonna have to step up.”
Considering the roster construction, Finkelman’s mindset is understandable. North Broward Prep had just two seniors and eight middle schoolers on the varsity roster.
That meant being the focal point for North Broward Prep’s offense as an attacking midfielder even though she normally plays as a holding midfield for her travel team.
“I knew that I had to put the work in so that others want to work for the team as well,” Finkelman said. “I kind of just put it on myself. I was like, I’ve gotta go out and score these goals in every game, do my best to help the team and get the job done.”
Finkelman helped set the foundation for what it takes to make a playoff run.
And with the bulk of North Broward Prep’s team returning next year, Finkelman is looking forward to one final run — and hopefully a state title.
“It helps a tremendous amount,” Finkelman said. “I think everyone saw how close we got to reaching states this year and I think that adds a whole other level of motivation to go back next year and fight for that title. It shows the team that we are capable of doing it. I think in many people’s eyes at the beginning of the season, that was a far-fetched dream. I don’t think people really thought that we can make it that far, but this year really showed us and showed everyone around us that we can do it.”
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