The best players handle pressure in their own unique way. For Berkeley Carroll senior soccer star Elena Levi, that wasn’t a problem as she flourished on the field as one of two captains helping lead her school to a PSAA league championship over league rival Staten Island Academy and even more success including a deep run in the New York State Playoffs.

Though they fell short to Fieldston on a debatable call in the State Semis via a penalty kick, overall it was a great year for the Lady Lions Varsity soccer program under Coach Macmahon. For the second straight year, the 17 year-old Levi achieved All-Conference in her league and helped lead BC to an impressive 13-4-1 mark.

The central midfielder who possesses a strong work ethic on and off the field also garnered MVP honors in her school’s signature win over SIA in capturing the PSAA title.

Not only did she lead on the field but off as well enjoying her role by organizing some interesting yet novel concepts to help encourage support for the team and remind teammates what needed to happen on the field in order for them to enjoy overall success.

What the two sport athlete who also just recently concluded the Varsity basketball season will always remember is being able to add a soccer championship trophy for BC- coming in addition to helping her school win the ACIS in basketball a year prior alongside best friend and New Paltz bound Zoe Cohen.

While Levi is still uncertain where she’ll wind up this Fall, one thing that’s clear is she wants to continue her soccer career at the collegiate ranks.

The defensive star took time out of a busy schedule to grant us an interview focusing on her memorable soccer experience along with other astute observations on the game:

Derek Felix: Let’s say I’m a coach/scout recruiting from a college. Describe your playing style. Biggest attributes?

Elena Levi: When I met with college coaches I always told them that I thought I was a disciplined, team player. I like to make passes, and set up my teammates. I would also explain how, by playing defense on my club team, I have learned a lot about getting back to mark up, and cut off the other teams passing angles.

DF: You had a very successful soccer season winning the PSAA championship and going pretty far in the State playoffs. What was the biggest key to the team’s success?

EL: I think that our team has one of the biggest hearts of any of the other school teams out there. Much of this was because of Mr. Macmahon, who taught us how to work really hard to be a successful team. He knew that many of the other teams would break down if we could get an early goal and apply some pressure, so he encouraged us to do that. But also, each player’s individual excitement while playing encouraged everyone on the field to continue to play hard, together. We are a team that never gave up.

DF: How special was it to beat Staten Island Academy for the PSAA league championship? What will you remember most?

EL: It was so exciting to beat SIA in penalty kicks. Of course, I don’t think we should of had to let penalty kicks be the deciding factor because I think we were the better team and just let our nerves get the best of us at the start of the game. But, running in for the dogpile after Amanda Cordisco scored the winning penalty kick will be a moment I will always remember. Not to mention the celebrating on the bus ride home with our big boombox.

DF: With it being your final year, you took on more of a leadership role. How much did you relish it? Any extra pressure?

EL: Aarian Marshall and I were captains of this years varsity team. We wanted it to be the most special and fun season we have ever had, so we put a lot of effort to encourage our classmates and teachers to come support us at our games. Before every home game, we would put up funny signs all around the school, reminding everyone about our game. (for example, we put up one sign that says, “get hungry!” before one of our games, a saying Mr. Macmahon always says).

Before the championship, we even put up a huge poster in our schools’ courtyard that we spent the night before painting. This season was very special to us; we wanted to win, and we knew that we had the potential to make it very far.

DF: How much fun is it being a standout player at your school?

EL:  I like being able to encourage my teammates around me, giving them pointers to make their game one step better. I know I did it a lot to Keyanka [Bailey] this year, because she played right behind me, so I was always trying to make her the best player she could be.

DF: You’ve played the game a considerable amount of time. Was there a big soccer star you tried to pattern your game after?

EL:  I have so many favorite soccer players its hard to name just one of them. I love Thierry Henry for his amazing abilities to score goals and take on defenders. I love Essien’s defensive vigor and mental toughness. Because I have been playing so much defense on my club team, I have really come to appreciate players like Essien, who have taught me a lot about how to play this role.

But I also love watching Robinho dance around the field, getting by defenders and setting up his teammates well. I find little attributes from each of the famous soccer players from around the world that I try to mimmick.

DF: There’s a misconception in this country that soccer is boring. What would you say to the cynics?

EL: People think soccer is boring because it is not a high scoring game. But If you were to bring any one person to a Arsenal game in England, or Bayern Munich game in Germany, they would definitely think differently once the final whistle blows. The crowd’s excitement is a game to watch in itself. I love soccer because of the spontaneity and team work; and I think that if other people in America put more effort into watching soccer, they would train themselves to these exciting qualities, too.

DF: You also played for the girls Varsity basketball team and helped them win a league title last year. How rewarding was that?

EL: Last year’s championship game was like a dream; down ten with a few more minutes to go, and we win?! Honestly, the whole time I thought we were going to lose. But somehow we put it together and got a victory in the end. Looks like the other team learned an important lesson that day, because they were so set on winning, that by the last buzzer, they were shocked at the outcome of the game.

DF: You run the court very well and play solid aggressive defense. How much did playing soccer benefit you on the court?

EL: Its funny, because, sometimes I think that basketball helps me in soccer more than soccer helps me in basketball. Soccer has helped me in basketball because it has taught me how to run and gave me good footwork.

But playing defense in basketball has taught me even more about defense in soccer. Man to man defense helped me stay disciplined on defense when I have to mark a player; defensive slides in basketball has helped me to stay with a girl dribbling the ball at me in soccer. The two sports are more similar than one would think, and they both complement each other.

DF: You helped run Coach Paller’s three guard offense utilizing your passing skills. Are you as unselfish on the field as on the court? Is it a different mentality?

EL: I think as the competition in soccer gets more intense, more team work is needed to be a successful team. As a kid, I would love to dribble on the field, taking on defenders and crossing it in for my teammates to score. I was much more selfish. But now I play more or less a one or two touch game.

In soccer, you have to work the ball around fast, switching the sides of the field to keep the defense moving (much like in basketball). And as many soccer coaches will tell you, the ball moves faster when you pass it around than when you dribble it at your feet. So, in a sense, the same thing applies to soccer as to basketball, moving the ball around–so yes, I have become a player who looks to her teammates first before taking it for herself.

DF: One word or phrase to describe basketball star and good friend/teammate Zoe Cohen.

EL: My hero (haha).

DF:Final question: Recently, you still weren’t certain where you’ll attend college. Any closer to a decision?

EL:  I really don’t know what college I am going to be going to. But I do know that I want to play soccer, and will be going somewhere where that is possible. The letters should be coming in the mail within the next three weeks, so I will have to wait till then!