Nutritional education, intense cardio and plyometric training do not define a relaxing summer vacation. But for Haley Bomboy to be ready for this season, she couldn’t take too much of a break.

Bomboy needed to use that time to improve her game heading into her third season for Syracuse.

‘This summer I took a really good look at myself and realized this is going to be my junior year,’ Bomboy said. ‘It’s a big year for me.’

After redshirting her freshman season and not seeing action last year, Bomboy has become more of a factor for the Orange (16-3, 5-1 Big East) this season. Her dedication during the summer and the patience she has shown in her time at Syracuse has paid off. She has earned more playing time in 2011, appearing in 14 games and scoring her first career goal on Sept. 3 against Wake Forest.

Bomboy’s increased role began this summer when the Orange played four exhibition games in Argentina. SU head coach Ange Bradley said Bomboy played an instrumental role in the team’s success in South America.

The head coach has noticed Bomboy’s technical skills, awareness, mental toughness and fitness have all improved greatly.

Bomboy said she was starting to contribute more in the spring and knew she was in position to gain more playing time this fall. It served as motivation for Bomboy to push herself all summer.

And that dedication was clear to Bradley.

‘Her whole body composition changed and along with that her whole mentality,’ Bradley said. ‘She’s a fighter, she’s hard-nosed, and she’s a competitor. When she got her fitness in line she put herself in the mix to compete for minutes.’

Bomboy has turned that chance to compete into more opportunities to make something happen in games. Her first career goal in SU’s 4-1 victory over Atlantic Coast Conference foe Wake Forest was the culmination of it all.

Bomboy received a pass from Kelsey Millman and tapped it into the net for the goal. The junior said it was an exciting experience and that she was ‘shocked.’

Bradley and her teammates shared the enthusiasm

‘When she scored everybody was just going crazy,’ Bradley said. ‘It was great for her to score, especially against an ACC team.’

Although Bradley said the goal has not changed the midfielder’s determined approach, teammate senior Nicole Nelson has seen a slight change in Bomboy’s manner since the goal and even more of a change since 2009.

Bomboy has shown more confidence and is more comfortable on the field this season.

‘Haley has made a lot of improvements since her freshman year,’ Nelson said. ‘She’s able to come in a lot for us now and play really well and be a really good defender.’

And though Bomboy does not lead the team in any statistical categories and does not play a lot, her leadership has not gone unnoticed. Bomboy is an unselfish player willing to do whatever Bradley asks of her.

And for the SU head coach, that team-first approach and her improvement this season make her a special player.

‘She can play a forward, play a mid, play a back and not blink an eye about it,’ Bradley said. ‘She’s just competing and doing very well for us. I’m so proud of her development over time.

‘It’s really a great reward as a coach. When you see that it’s like winning a championship.’

jmhyber@syr.edu

Published on October 31, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Contact Josh: jmhyber@syr.edu