SARATOGA SPRINGS — Two years ago, the Saratoga Central Catholic girl’s soccer team managed just one victory all season. Last year, the first of a rebuilding effort, they rocketed to eight wins, despite, at times, not having enough players to fill out a complete roster.

“I think it was a great accomplishment for the girls to turn it around like that, and it’s really a testament to them taking the systems we put in place and actually executing it,” said Head Coach Brian Venn.

Some of the Saints’ losses last season were close, winnable contests. They fell to Mekeel Christian Academy 2-1 and lost to Whitehall 3-2. Had those games gone slightly differently, Spa Catholic would’ve finished with a winning record.

The squad’s remarkable turnaround has attracted attention from just about everyone: interested players, student spectators, parents, and the community at large. When word went around that the Saints were serious about soccer, donations, attendance, and enthusiasm all shot up.

“We’ve got great support from our [athletics director]. We’ve got great student support. Our games were filled with students watching the young ladies play last year, which was awesome,” said Assistant Coach Tony Nucera. “We’re really proud of where we are. It doesn’t mean we’re exactly where we want to be, but we’re trending in the right direction. Our goal, when we did this together, was to sustain a program that for years to come would be available to the student athletes, and also have, eventually, a JV program and a modified program. That’s where we want to get it. It’ll take us a little while to get there, but it’s a lot of fun getting to where we are now.”

Along the path of this ambitious rebuild comes increased expectations for the 2025 season. The coaches are aiming for 11 wins, despite losing key contributors Sydney Caracci and Grace Venn, both of whom were senior team captains. But the Saints won’t go quietly into the night. Juniors Ava Brown and Allison Fuller, who Venn said last year were poised to become standouts, have indeed stepped into leadership roles. Both were named team captains for the 2025 season. Joining them is Addison Quail, a junior who led the team in assists last year and is back for her second stint as a captain. 

“I feel confident leading the team,” Quail said. “It’s nice to see everyone coming together and working together to push through the season and win as many games as we can.”

“I think last year we had such a successful team and an organization that we’re starting, and I think that it showed all the younger kids that this has hope and we can do more with this,” Fuller said. “A lot of people tried out and made the team this year, and our numbers rose just because of last year with new coaches and our support by everyone in the school.”

The captains agreed that their biggest games of the regular season will be opening and closing contests against Mekeel Christian. The first is on Friday, Sept. 5, the second, Oct. 11. Mekeel and Spa Catholic have developed a healthy rivalry thanks to their close games last season, all three of which ended in Saints losses. But like many things with this team, all of that could soon change for the better.

2025 Saratoga Central Catholic Lady Saints Girls Varsity Soccer Roster 

Allison Fuller (team captain): senior goalie/striker, #1

Grace Schaefer: junior goalie/striker, #2

Isabella Hutter: senior defense, #3

Anna Fitzpatrick: senior midfield, #5

Julia Dejnozka: sophomore forward/midfield, #6

Maggie Durfee: sophomore stopper, #9

Addison Quail (team captain): junior center midfield, #10

Sophia Ryan: junior midfield, #12

Ava Brown (team captain): senior sweeper, #15

Lily Guiden: junior forward, #19

Mekenna King: sophomore midfield, #21

Hannah Carter: sophomore midfield, #22

Emma Gilchrist: sophomore defense, #23

Lily Janic: sophomore midfield, #28

Luchiana Leon: senior defense, #30

Sophia Brunner: 8th grade striker, #31

Jill Venn: junior striker, #44

Sophia Klamp: freshman goalie, #50

Head Coach: Brian Venn 

Assistant Coach: Tony Nucera

2025 Saratoga Central Catholic Lady Saints Girls Varsity Soccer Schedule

9/5 4:30 p.m. vs. Mekeel Christian at Maalwyck Park  

9/9 4:30 p.m. vs. Berlin New Lebanon at Gavin Park 

9/12 4:30 p.m. vs. Cambridge at Cambridge 

9/13 12 p.m. vs. Whitehall Saturday at Gavin Park 

9/18 4:30 p.m. vs. North Warren/Johnsburg at North Warren/Johnsburg 

9/19 4:30 p.m. vs. Germantown at Gavin Park 

9/22 5 p.m. vs. Watervliet at Gavin Park 

9/26 4:30 p.m. vs. Gloversville at Gavin Park 

9/29 4:30 p.m. vs. Corinth at Gavin Park

10/2 7:00 p.m. vs. Whitehall at Whitehall (night game) 

10/3 7:00 p.m. vs. Watervliet at Watervliet (night game) 

10/7 4:30 p.m. vs. North Warren/Johnsburg at Gavin Park (pink game) 

10/9 4:30 p.m. vs. Corinth at Corinth 

10/11 12 p.m. vs. Mekeel Christian at Gavin Park (Saturday/Senior Day)

SARATOGA SPRINGS — It was a dog-gone, paws-itively beautiful night as the warm evening air above the Saratoga Casino was filled with a chorus of barking wieners.

On Saturday, the casino’s harness track hosted a battalion of furrier, much smaller competitors during a wiener dog race that followed the third horse race of the night. Buoyant, bouncing wieners trotted onto the track. Some, clearly, had done this before. Others seemed happy just to be there.

When the race began, three Dachshunds bolted for the finish line, arriving there in about 5 seconds. The victor, Maple Sausage, ran relatively steady and true. The second and third place finishers, Granny and Gus, weaved a bit but ultimately earned their ribbons.

The aptly named Granny was the race’s oldest competitor at 15 years, and her owner is Jack Carpenter, co-founder of the local social media company Two Buttons Deep.

Nearly every bench near the track had at least one racing fan stationed on it, whether there for horses or wieners or both. The event also featured a corn dog contest and a puppy meet-and-greet. The spectacle set the stage for what was to come the following day: a five-race Corgi Cup competition at the Saratoga Race Course.

48 Corgis registered for the event, including a trio dubbed the “Corgs of War,” who were the heavy favorites thanks to prior victories in races held by NFL teams. Ares, named after the Greek god of war and courage, had previously won two Corgi Cups with the Buffalo Bills. Athena, named for the Greek goddess of wisdom and warfare, was the 2024 New York Giants Corgi Cup champion. And Tails, who apparently does not share a name with a Greek god, won a Corgi Cup with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Four qualifying heats took place throughout the afternoon on Sunday. The top three finishers from each heat advanced to the championship round, which featured a 12-Corgi field that went to post shortly after the 7th (horse) race. Each sprint was run at a 40-yard distance, and the action was broadcast on FOX Sports (FS1) for the world to see. Fans were not able to bet on the Corgis via the official NYRA Bets app, though it’s likely some wagers were placed off the books.

The first heat was star-studded. Horse trainer Jena Antonucci, the first woman to win a Triple Crown race, ran her pup Mando. “This is stressful right now,” Antonucci said as she readied her Corgi at the starting gate. Fenway Frank, owned by a Glens Falls resident who used to bus tables at the track, was another popular favorite heading into the qualifier. But neither Corg could contend with the god of war himself, Ares, who flew to the finish in just 5.17 seconds.

The second heat featured a number of local dogs, including Oly from Halfmoon, Spike from Troy, and Finn from Mechanicville. Another Corg of War, Athena, was unexpectedly challenged in this qualifier by Norman, who made his racing debut at the Spa. “Short legs, big dreams,” said Norman’s owner. But the dreamer couldn’t overcome the goddess, and the warrior clan of Corgis secured their second victory of the day, thwarting Norman’s near-Cinderella story.

The third heat featured Abbey, a Saratoga resident whose owner runs the Springwater Bed and Breakfast, and who has wheels attached to her hind legs. Abbey entered the race despite being unable to walk just six months ago. The brave soul took her time wheeling forward, but did so with the support of the spectators, who erupted in applause when she crossed the finish line.

Ultimately, the third qualifier was won by Kona, in a massive upset that left the third Corg of War, Tails, in the dust. Kona recorded a time of 5.27 seconds, the second-fastest of the day at that point. “This boy will run anywhere for his treats,” Kona’s owner said in a post-race interview with FOX Sports’ Maggie Wolfendale.

The final heat featured no Corgs of War, leaving the field wide open. Sam, who had secured the 8th post position, prevailed in dominant fashion, winning in 5.33 seconds. “Sam’s got a little crazy in him so he’s able to go real fast when he wants to,” said Sam’s owners after the race. 

Both Sam and the Corgs of War are members of the Long Island Corgi Club. All of them, familiar with each other’s talents, knew that the Corgi Cup would be a mighty challenge. 

Ares entered the championship as the favorite thanks to his record-setting time. But Sam made it known he would not shrink quietly into the night by relieving himself at the rail on his way to the track. “My stomach turns every time I come out here, very nervous,” said Ares’ owner. The pups were feisty at the gate, barking and yowling with anticipation.

Out of the gate, Sam trailed behind a heap of Corgis, any one of whom could’ve prevailed. But then Sam found within himself a mighty dose of determination. He launched into high gear and secured the Corgi Cup title. Draped in red flowers and hoisted above human heads, as if to suggest his god-like status, Sam was awarded the Corgi Cup, a silver trophy stuffed with red Saratoga tennis balls that was bigger than his entire body.