HARFORD MAVERICKS' ATTACKMAN PLAYS BIG
(July 24, 2008)
by Lisa Garel
Standing just four-feet, eleven-inches tall, 13-year-old Harford (Md.) Mavericks’ attackman Will Farley has a daunting task: playing against defenders who are a foot taller than him.
Although Farley’s size is a factor in his play, it didn’t stop him at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Atlantic Cup earlier this month, where he recorded six assists in his team’s 9-8 loss against NOVA (Md.) during Toyota Pool Play.
Fortunately, Farley has the help of New York Titans' forward Brendan Mundorf to back him up, both in team practices and private lessons. Mundorf coaches Farley’s club team, and invited Will to try out after he saw him play at a clinic.
“I think he sees the field really well and he’s a really good feeder,” said Mundorf, “That’s what I first noticed.”
“He can see a play develop before it happens from behind the goal,” added Mavericks’ assistant coach Matt Sparks, “He’s kind of the quarterback of our offense. So when he’s back behind at X, he has a good ability to see everything.”
“He distributes the ball very well and gets a lot of assists for our attackmen,” said Mavericks’ fellow attackman Chase Wedekind.
Farley thinks he’s improved considerably since his lessons with Mundorf began six months ago. Sparks thinks that the teacher and the student have a very similar style of play, which is a major reason that Mundorf’s tutelage has helped Farley so much.
“Brendan’s kind of a hard-nosed attackman, as is Will,” said Sparks. “As far as games are concerned, they have a lot in common.”
Farley’s ability to snake his way through defenders has made him elusive.
“I think some guys have a hard time covering him because it’s hard to get a piece of him with his quickness and center of gravity,” said Mundorf. “They can’t get their hands on him.”
Mavericks’ defender Luke Stiebe can attest to this from playing against Farley in practice.
“It’s really hard to defend him because he’s so small. He kind of weaves under you. He’s so small and all of our defense is so big. You just never know what he’s going to do.”
Farley’s attitude towards being small has helped him succeed against larger defenders.
“It’s a disadvantage, but you just have to work your butt off and fight through it,” explained Farley.
“He knows he’s tiny, but he’s tough as nails,” said Sparks, “He knows he’s going to get pushed around and hacked, and he has to make up for that with his tenacity and his attitude.”
Wedekind shares Sparks’s sentiments.
“He always keeps going and driving to the goal,” said Wedekind, “He doesn’t stop even though he’s small and gets hit.”
Although many focus on his size, Farley doesn’t think it’s a hindrance to his game.
“The stereotype is that small is not good. Really, when you’re small, people underestimate you. You just have to come out and surprise them.”
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