A-K Valley athletes of the week: Freeport’s Cam Woods, Springdale’s Alex Wylly

By: Brennan Valladares
Saturday, September 13, 2025 | 1:23 PM

Cam Woods

School: Freeport

Class: Junior

Sport: Soccer

Claim to fame: Woods scored a hat trick in an 11-0 win against Valley on Monday. On Wednesday, the junior forward added two more goals to guide the Yellowjackets to a 4-0 victory over North Catholic. Freeport is atop the Section 2-2A standings with a 5-1 overall record and a 3-0 conference record.

How would you evaluate your team’s performance so far this year as it attempts to defend the section title? What are the other goals your team has?

I think our team is doing extremely well. We came in this year with a lot of experience because last year we had plenty of freshmen who contributed greatly. We are all so close, and it really shows on the field. We come together and all play so hard for each other. This team has the potential to do big things this year. Our goals this year are to be section champs for the third year in a row and go all the way to the WPIAL finals and on.

You’re coming off an All-WPIAL selection last year. How have you seen yourself improve and how do you plan on following that performance up this season?

Yes, I have seen myself improve over this last year. Especially being a part of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds Development Academy, I’ve developed so much, and I also put in a ton of work to get stronger and faster, and I feel those changes making a difference this season.

After splitting the first two games of the season, what has been working well during this four-game winning streak?

I think that we needed that loss (against Butler) so we could learn. It helped us make sure we were focused at each practice. Going into each game, we come with intensity and confidence. Our defense and our goalkeeper, Alyssa Alcorn, have been unstoppable. Each of them plays a huge role in our success over these last games. Focusing on moving the ball and having patience to pick the right time to find us forwards up top has been very effective as well.

What was it like celebrating reaching the 50-career goal mark?

I actually scored my 50th goal at North Hills. My focus is always the scoreboard not the stats sheet, so I didn’t even realize it was my 50th until I turned around and saw my family holding up 50 signs. It was a great feeling for sure.

How will your team prepare for its matchup against the only other undefeated team in the section in Burrell on Monday?

We are more prepared than ever. Each of us (came) out Saturday morning to practice one last time. All we need is for all of us to come together as a team and we can do anything. We are ready.

Four of your team’s five wins have been shutouts. What can you say about Alcorn’s goaltending and the team’s overall defense this season?

Like I said, they have been unstoppable. Each of them plays their hearts out every game. No matter what we are faced with, they are always prepared and do exactly what they need to do. It starts with our midfielders, too. They all give everything they have for all 80 minutes and make it very difficult for other teams to break us down. I also can’t say enough about Alyssa Alcorn. We are so lucky to have such an amazing goalkeeper. She is also so encouraging throughout the whole game and brings so much energy to the team.

What songs are you listening to pregame?

I usually just listen to calm music to get me locked in.

Do you have a favorite soccer team?

My favorite soccer team is the San Diego Wave National Women’s Soccer League team.

Do you have a favorite soccer player?

My favorite soccer player will always be Carli Lloyd.

Outside of soccer, what are some of your hobbies?

Some of my hobbies are working out and training, golfing and shopping.

What are your favorite classes in school?

My favorite classes in school are any science classes.

Alex Wylly

School: Springdale

Class: Junior

Sport: Soccer

Claim to fame: Wylly netted two goals and notched an assist in a Section 4-A win over Riverview on Wednesday to keep Springdale (4-1, 3-0) undefeated in section play. The junior forward has six goals and two assists this season. Springdale lost to Freeport, 2-1, on Saturday.

What have been the main contributing factors to your team’s strong start?

It’s really just playing with a lot of grit. Coming out, being the most hard-working team, keeping our midfield controlled and just staying together as we go.

With the departure of 10 seniors from last year’s quarterfinals team, have there been difficulties finding the right voices in the locker room?

Not really, because last year we had a bunch of leaders, even as juniors, too. I mean, our senior captain, Brennan Mattie, he was a junior last year, and our center back, Nathan DiLeo, he was a big mouth on the back line when one of our starting center backs got injured. So everybody really stepped up, and we just all play as one. Everybody has a little bit of a captain to them.

How have you or other underclassmen stepped up into leadership roles?

It’s really just like being welcomed. Our coaches came in, and they don’t really care about your class. He cares about how you carry yourself and how you play. It’s all about just lifting your teammates up. Everybody’s going to yell at each other. We’re going to have some hard times, but at the end of the day, we’re all just brothers, and we all just lift each other up.

How have you had so much success finding the back of the net this season?

It’s really all credit to our midfield and our defense getting the ball up top. I mean, we don’t really let in that many goals. If we do, there are a bunch of goals that shouldn’t have went in. So once our midfield gets the ball, we have a great starting three right up the middle, and our two center backs and our left back, and our right back are great just getting the ball up top. Then I get on my horse, and I run, and then I got everybody else that follows with me.

What can you say about Coach Liberati having you guys playing the way you are in only his second season?

Oh, it’s great. It’s really every day we’re fired up. Everybody loves to come to practice. Everybody loves playing with each other. … He’s almost like one of us. He hops into the drills — he plays with us. And then our two other coaches even them, I mean, we have two brothers as coaches, so they have great connections, and it’s great connections to our teammates as well from our coaches.

What do you believe is the ceiling for this team?

I think if we play how we always do, how we know we could play, I think we can go all the way. … We have a bunch of kids that just show a bunch of grit. So I think we can go all the way.

What songs are you listening to pregame?

I either listen to “Free Fall” by Rainbow Kitten Surprise or “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac.

What is your pregame meal?

I go to the Sheetz. I get a breakfast sandwich and Arizona green tea, and as soon as I get on the bus, I open it up and I eat it.

Do you have a favorite soccer team?

Not really. I mean, I’ve always been a fan of Lionel Messi, but I really don’t watch professional soccer.

Do you watch any other sports?

Yeah, I watch a lot of wrestling. I watch a lot of college soccer.

What are some of your hobbies outside of soccer?

I love to travel. I love to explore. I like to ride bikes. It’s really just going out and just being active. I love being active.

What are your favorite classes in school?

I really like chemistry, and I like English, too.

Tags: Freeport, Springdale