Sometimes you can measure a player’s compete level by what they do off the field.
In Olivia Pisano’s case, you just need to check in on her around Easter time.
“[Our family] would do an Easter egg hunt and it would be a big competition,” said Pisano, a senior defender on the Gloucester Catholic High School girls soccer team. “We would go down the steps and knock each other over until our parents yelled at us. It got pretty physical. My brother doesn’t take it easy on me at all.”
Olivia’s older brother T.J. is three years older and played Tier II junior hockey for NY Dynamo in the National Collegiate Development Conference after a great career at Gloucester Catholic. He and Olivia shared a lot of sporting interests growing up and always played together. Olivia says it’s where she gathered her toughness that is on display each day on the soccer field.
“I started playing soccer when I was 5,” she said. “My brother played so I played, but I didn’t really like it. I switched to a bunch of other sports and eventually I came back and loved it.”
Olivia ventured into gymnastics and dance and even played street hockey with her brother. It helped make her the well-rounded athlete that has patrolled the back line for the Rams the last four years.
“Overall, she’s just a great athlete and person and it reflects on the field,” said Rams coach Elysa Virella. “She is definitely the one that everyone looks up to because she can hold it down, not matter what. She is the brick wall back there. They can’t get through her.”
Pisano and forward Alexa Battaglia are the only seniors on a young Gloucester Catholic team, which is coming off an impressive 11-5-1 season that included a South Jersey Non-Public B playoff victory over Wildwood Catholic Academy last year. It’s been a little tougher for the Rams this season with a younger roster, but they are managing to push forward. Gloucester Catholic was 2-3 through five games but has been competitive in each outing. A winning streak could be just around the corner.
“I think it’s really good for us to stick together,” Pisano said after a 2-0 loss to a talented Woodstown team on Sept. 16. “It can be hard when you go down a goal, but we’re making sure we stay positive and get back at it.”
The Rams rebounded a day later with a 6-0 shutout over Penns Grove.
“Everybody who has played almost every single minute has done it well,” Virella said of her team’s performance in the early season. “They give their all and it definitely shows. I think we have a lot of good individual talent that will work together in a positive way. It’s been great so far.”
Pisano has unfinished business. Next year, she will play soccer at Shepherd University in West Virginia, where she will study physical therapy and exercise science.
“I like the environment there,” Pisano said. “It’s a smaller school and competitive soccer. It’s good for my program.”
Pisano’s talents stretch beyond soccer. At Gloucester Catholic, she is part of the international club and was a member of the baking club before it disbanded. She also used to play the piano before soccer and schoolwork ate up all her time. She stressed the importance of getting good grades.
“Even with soccer, it can be really hard to study, but I make sure it’s a priority, especially wanting to go into the medical field,” said Pisano, who is a member of National Honor Society. “It’s a lot of studying in the car and long nights. “
And sometimes a push from her brother.
“He taught me to be competitive,” Olivia said. “Or maybe that was just our bond. We just always wanted to be better than each other and brag about it.”
Especially when it came to Easter morning.
It’s been a few years since there was an egg hunt at the Pisano house, but Olivia said she knows who would win.
“Me. Me. 100 percent,” Olivia said. “I’m just going to go fast as soon as they say ‘go’ and hope he gets distracted and I’ll box him out.”
at the bottom and then tap “Add to Home Screen”
