Good Things Come in Twos: The Traylor Soccer Sisters
The Traylor sisters are the breath of fresh air the women’s soccer team needed to push them further up the SCIAC standings this season. Layla Traylor (third-year) and Madeline Traylor (first-year) have led the team in goals scored, points made by an athlete, shots taken, and shots on goal — statistics crucial for winning soccer games. They made aggressive strides in 15 games played, efforts recognized by other coaches in the conference, which resulted in Layla earning Second Team All-SCIAC and Maddy racking First Team All-SCIAC and SCIAC Newcomer of the Year. Alanis Cervantes earned the Second Team All-SCIAC award in her second year as a Poet.
The offensive athletic weapons that are the Traylor sisters scored a combined 13 goals, almost half of the amount scored in the season for the Poets. Maddy led the team (and SCIAC conference) with eight goals and two assists, while Layla was not far behind with five goals and four assists. As the sisters share what could be seen as a telepathic connection that allows them to artfully attack any opposing defense, the two often succeed in the daunting task of getting past the goalkeeper.
Both sisters looked at each other with a knowing smile when asked if playing together allowed them to perform at such a high level. “We’ve always played with each other ever since we were young. [We] just always know where we are on the field, like, we have good chemistry.” Layla, the more experienced of the duo, dotes on her young sister, saying, “She’s like one of the few people that can keep up with me; she has the same speed as me, the same work ethic.”
Layla Traylor is in her third season as a Poet, exuding the kind of self-assurance that comes from playing her sport for so long and doing it well. In the previous season, she led the team in goals scored and has continued her level of play into this 2023 season. As a third-year, Layla imparts her experiences and knowledge of the game to the newcomers, creating a sense of team camaraderie that will undoubtedly impact years of players to come. Her exemplary work ethic is displayed in the speed she never loses and her perpetually positive mindset in any situation.
The women’s soccer team had a 5–7–3 overall record with a .433 win percentage. They finished sixth in SCIAC standings, which the Traylor sisters believe does not reflect the team’s potential. Layla dwelled on the season, “We had a great team, and we could have gotten where we wanted to, like make it to the end, but it was just the couple games where we wanted it to go our way, and it didn’t.” The team employed a “get the next one” mentality that got them through those challenging games. “[Our team] has this thing called ‘Dory memory,’ and it’s just like, just forget about it…shake it off and keep going.” This is simply one of the ways Layla’s experience has been an integral part of the season. Both sisters seemed eager for the future when asked how this season’s experience was notably more promising. “Definitely Maddy coming in,” gushed the older sister, Layla.
For some first-years, adjusting to the pressure of being a student-athlete takes a while. Their first year is often about them gaining their footing on the team and establishing the all-encompassing aspect of college life. This was not true for this year’s Newcomer of the Year. Maddy burst onto the field as if she had been playing there for years. As a young player, she competed with girls who were two years older, which allowed her to assert herself as the most powerful offensive member of the team.
Maddy’s impressive performance against the University of Redlands, where she scored half of her season’s goals, a SCIAC-best four in one game, and her ability to assist in other goals led to her recognition as Newcomer of the Year. Scoring three game-winning goals, Maddy shows her impressive ability to perform under pressure and her potential to be the Poets’ playmaker for years to come. She attributes her acclimation to the extensive team bonding during the off-season and having her sister, Layla, as a support system. “Whittier has welcomed her with open arms, and I’m just glad it’s done the same for me,” Maddy expressed, affirming how playing in a nurturing environment has fostered greatness.
Layla cemented her sister’s notions about the many benefits of playing with a close companion, such as a sister figure, by remarking, “Me and Maddy, we always just work for each other. If I see her playing 110 [percent], I’m going to play 120.” The Traylor sisters are dynamic athletes who cemented themselves as stars in their first year together. Their recent recognition is well-deserved and shows only a glimpse of their future contributions. It will be exciting to see what they do next season!
Photo courtesy of Tony Leon / tony@actionwestphotography.com
