Abby Incorvaia
Sport: Soccer
School: Waldwick
Class: Senior. Age: 17
Accomplishment: Scored a goal and registered a pair of assists in a 3-1 win over Group 4 Kearny, then tallied four more in a 7-0 win over Midland Park to open the North 1, Group 1 tournament.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Story by: Greg Tartaglia / NorthJersey.com
Abby Incorvaia’s mom says she’s a typical middle child. That may be true as some of the traits of a middle child (she’s the second of three daughters) as defined by birth order theory is adaptablity, flexibility, accountability and independence.
On the athletic fields, she certainly fits those four traits. She’s adaptable on the pitch, where she’s the epitome of a striker, cold-blooded with a nose for the net and never fully satisfied with her performance. That’s why she’s Waldwick’s all-time leading scorer, boys or girls, with more than 125 goals. No other Warrior has ever broken 100 goals.
On the basketball court, she’s a playmaker, looking to score or more importantly set up her teammates for points. “I know I have ability to pass the ball to the right place,” she said.
She’s also flexible. “I want to major in psychology in college because I’m fascinated by the brain and how it works,” the senior said. “I work hard and maybe even more work on mindset and mental health because I want to make sure my mind is as prepared as my body.”
She’s accountable. “I love doing extra work to make myself better, going to the field, and to the gym and working to turn myself into a more disciplined and professional person. I love to do my job on the field.”
And she’s independent and occasionally not afraid to take a chance and catch an opponent off guard.
“Last year, in a state game, we played Kittatinny and the score was tied 1-1 late in the game,” she recalled. “I had a free kick about 30 yards and I saw that the goalie was not ready, so I just kicked the ball into the goal.
“Their whole team was complaining that I hadn’t waited for the ref to blow his whistle, but he told them the ref only blows his whistle on a penalty kick and that the goal counted.”
It was the game winning shot.
Incorvaia has earned a scholarship to Syracuse University to play soccer in the Atlantic Coast Conference, perhaps the strongest league in the country. The ACC sent four teams to regional finals a year ago and Florida State defeated Stanford for the national championships (Stanford joined the ACC this year).
“I always wanted to play in the ACC and I love the culture of the Syracuse coaches and team,” Incoravia said. “It’s a growing program and I can’t wait to be part of it.”
Waldwick coach Stefanee Kivlehan calls Incoravia “a phenomenal leader, and an extremely impressive player who is also a great student and serves as a role model for the younger players in town.”
“I love being part of a small town and seeing the same friends I’ve grown up with,” she said. “I don’t have a lot of down time, but I like working at Van Dyk’s (a legendary ice cream store in Ridgewood) with my friends and taking my dog Moose (a 60 pound Australian shepherd) for longer walks.” (Note: He’s a puller.)
“I just like being out there competing, and I don’t want to lose at anything,” she said.
Typical middle child? Maybe. But far from a typical athlete.
