Sister duo thrives on Foundation Academy soccer team

For most teammates, chemistry is something built over time. It begins at tryouts and grows throughout the hours spent practicing for game day. And it’s one of the most important aspects to build aside from individual skills. 

Players need to have chemistry with their coaches and teammates, but for some, the connection is built prior to knowing each other through the sport. 

For Foundation Academy sisters Alyvia and Delaney Clark, their special connection began at birth. Then, it blossomed when they began playing youth soccer.

Today, Alyvia is a senior on Foundation’s team, and she’s played for the Lions since sixth grade. Delaney, an eighth-grader, is in her second season as a Lion,

It’s the age gap that’s allowed for Delaney Clark to have a smoother transition to playing on the high school-level team. As a middle-schooler on the high school team, she looks up to the older players — especially her older sister — for guidance and support as she navigates the team.

“Alyvia’s helped me become friends with a lot of them, since she’s older than me, so it all works out,” Delaney said. 

Over her seasons with the Lions, Alyvia has developed close friendships with her teammates. She said this season is different since Foundation lost a core group of seniors, but now, she is able to step into the role of a senior leader and help Delaney tackle the road of developing friendships. 

Three years ago, Alyvia’s role was flipped when she was a freshman on Foundation’s team with her older sister, Kaitlyn. Alyvia learned from her older sister and now uses those leadership skills as she takes on being the oldest. 

Being sisters helps the Clarks to feed off each other’s energy. They share neighboring bedrooms, and Delaney often will go into Alyvia’s room just to spend time together. They understand each other on a deeper level than the soccer field, so they understand what emotions are rushing through on game days. 

Their shared love for soccer is an element that adds to the bond between the sisters.

“I think that working with (Delaney) it’s just so much better than working on just a team,” Alyvia said. “Compared to working with your sister than people you may not know as well. I think it’s just better.”

Soccer gives them an added reason to spend time together. They work on their skills together outside of Foundation’s practices by doing shootouts. Going out to the field and playing with her sister and teammates is Delaney’s favorite part of soccer. 

Outside of sharing time together as sisters, the girls never struggle with their family ties impacting their teammate status in a negative way. 

In Foundation’s season-opener Thursday, Nov. 13, the girls both recorded an assist during the team’s 2-2 tie with Geneva. 

“I love my younger sister, and I think it’s really fun to play with her,” Alyvia said. “I’m proud of her for any of her accomplishments.” 

It was special for the pair to share the accomplishment during Foundation’s first game, and it reflected on the relationship they have been building by growing up together and now competing as teammates. 

For the sisters, soccer always has been more than just a sport; it’s been a part of their identity and their upbringing. 

“(Our parents) always push us to play a sport and be active,” Delaney said. 

Both Alyvia and Delaney joined soccer when they were 4 years old. Alyvia said her career became more serious when she joined club soccer in fourth grade. She’s no longer on a club team, because the senior wants to prioritize her education to prepare for physician assistant school after high school. Delaney currently is playing club soccer with Florida Kraze Krush Soccer Club. 

Alyvia credits their mom for sparking her and her sister’s love for the sport. Their mom was a Division I soccer player at Florida State University and passed along her soccer roots to Alyvia, Delaney and their older sister, Kaitlyn. 

“My major role model would probably be my older sister Kaitlyn because she definitely pushed herself a lot in soccer and in academics, because now she goes to the University of Florida,” Delaney said. 

After Kaitlyn headed off to  UF, the girls have relied on each other and become closer. 

Senior captain Alyvia channels the positive and uplifting energy when she leads her teammates and her sister on a daily basis. 

“I’m a captain, so I try to lead by example,” Alyvia said. “I think it’s easier for me to be a captain for Delaney, because obviously, I can naturally boss her around and stuff to listen. So I think I’m kind of just keeping her in check.”

Delaney will be the last Clark to play for Foundation’s team, and she hopes to push herself to her limits in order to grow for the years to come. She dedicates herself to soccer and wants to one day become the captain of the team. 

Her goals align with Foundation’s team goals to push themselves and challenge their capabilities. The goal is to make it to districts and see how far the team can go from there, but throughout the journey, Alyvia said the team wants to see growth in their accomplishments. No matter the outcome at the end of the year, Foundation’s team wants to be able to look back at the beginning and feel the differences in their connections and skills.