Mondoza, McInerney have Griffith rolling

GRIFFITH | At 8-2, Griffith has out-performed just about everyone's preseason expectations.

Krystal Mendoza and Cindy McInerney are two big reasons for that.

Coming into the year, there were questions. A new coach, Wally Kudyba, brought a new system with him. Amy Bubala was new between the pipes.

Perhaps the biggest hole was replacing Katelyn Barta, a forward who had broken every scoring record in the Panther book.

"We're not just focusing on one person. We're focusing on everybody," Mendoza said.

"My main objective has been to get away from that, to not have a (single) go-to player," Kudyba said. "I want everyone to be involved."

McInerney has been the most involved, leading the team with nine goals. She plays up top, where Barta used to play.

"Cindy's a very determined player who likes to finish," Kudyba said. "She's done a very good job for us in front."

That's why the senior was moved from sweeper to forward, a position she's never played at the varsity level.

"I don't think I'll ever be really satisfied because I know I can always be better," McInerney said. "Going from sweeper to forward is a lot different, but I'm more of an offensive player, so I'm glad for the move."

Whether she liked it or not, the move put McInerney in a position to replace Barta's offense.

"I don't really think about it as much as players replacing specific players," she said. "It's more like the team as a whole replacing things."

The team environment is easy to see at Griffith practice. That's something the new coach wanted to foster.

"We work hard; it's serious when we're out there," Kudyba said. "(Off the field) we're more relaxed. We're making stuff enjoyable."

There's more reason to be motivated, the Panthers say, when players know there's no individual focus to the team.

"We expect more of each other at practices," Mendoza said. "We push each other more than just ourselves individually."

Kudyba switched things up on the pitch as well, installing a 3-5-2 formation. That meant Mendoza would be moving to the midfield, where the junior would need to be a team leader.

"They've adapted to that style and it's really been working for us," Kudyba said.

Mendoza has five goals on the season, but her coach said the junior's best soccer is still in her future.

"She has a little bit more to learn but she's stepping in the right direction," Kudyba said. "She will be one of the players to be reckoned with in the area."

Mendoza said the change in stategy has made a huge difference.

"We clog up the middle more. We're not giving up space down the middle," she said. "I'm expecting more of myself. I'm working together with the defense and the forwards to get the game going."

With McInerney and Mendoza on top of their games and just a few contests to go, the Panthers are turning heads.