Rachael Banasik's Facebook page says she enjoys listening to music, going shopping and

watching movies. What all her Facebook friends may not know is she also likes to bury soccer

balls into the back of opponents' nets.

The Depew senior has been doing that at a blistering pace ever since she joined the varsity

at the end of her eighth-grade year. She recently passed the 100-goal mark in her career,

breaking the school record of 99 held since 2001 by Rachael Golonka. She currently has 109.

Her 30 goals not only leads ECIC III, but is tops among all 28 schools in the ECIC. The

fact she's playing home games on Depew's new turf field is also helping showcase her skills.

With Banasik at forward, it's no coincidence the Wildcats (12-1-2) are having a big year.

Depew, a Class B school, lost its season opener to Class A Amherst and has since gone 14

straight without a loss. Monday's 7-0 victory over Springville earned a share of the ECIC III

title. A tie or win today at Pioneer would give Depew the title outright.

Depew won last month's Dan Durick Memorial Tournament in Tonawanda for the second year in

a row. The Wildcats are ranked No. 5 in the Western New York small school coaches poll.

Banasik wouldn't talk about her own play without mentioning sophomore teammates Kim

Obermeier (23 goals, 10 assists) and Sarah Turner. Banasik would likely see a lot more double

and triple teams without a little help from her friends.

"Me, Kim and Sarah — we usually have one-twos and quick balls through to goal," she

said. "I've known Sarah since we were 10. There's definitely a lot of heart on this team.

During one game we were behind, 1-0 [to Starpoint], and it was a huge game for us. Our coach

told us we had to step it up, and we came back and ended up winning, 2-1."

Banasik tried several sports when she was growing up, but soccer was easily her first love.

"Some of the girls, you worry about them losing their joy for playing," said Depew coach

Larry Jones, now in his third season coaching girls. "Rachel's never lost that. Some of these

girls when they're freshman and sophomores have had enough. Rachel relishes being on the team

and she knows she can compete with anyone."

When she's not playing for the Wildcats, Banasik competes for the Empire United Soccer

Academy out of Sahlen's Sports Park.

Her year-round passion doesn't leave time for much else, but when she does get some free

time, she usually spends it helping others. The volunteer work she does for St. James Church

in Depew has been more rewarding than she ever imagined.

She said he helps the poor by baking, putting food baskets together and sorting presents

around the holidays.

"I feel so lucky. I love knowing I can help other people, but it makes me feel terrible at

the same time that I get to eat food whenever I want and other people don't have that," she

said. "My parents started me out with it, and now that I've done it, I love the feeling after,

and I have just kept up with it."

Depew's opponents will find Banasik a lot less charitable when the whistle blows. "I'm

fortunate to have four-five fulltime players that are committed 12 months," Jones said.

"They're not just athletes, they're soccer players and that's something we haven't had in the

past."

The Section VI playoffs will begin next week. A title would be the first in Depew history,

not to mention a nice addition to Banasik's Facebook page.