Alden opens new chapter under Louis Mussari with smart soccer, veteran leadership

Overview

• Louis Mussari enters his first season as Alden varsity girls soccer head coach, saying he is excited to help the program grow and continue building on its success.
• Alden brings back a mix of seniors and newer players, with Emma Casillo and Zoe Turton set to captain the group.
• Mussari wants Alden to play smart soccer built on commitment and good positional play, with the expectation that the positional game strengthens as the team plays together.
• Ava Schmitt, a Class of 2030 forward, is one of the team's biggest storylines after posting 28 goals and eight assists as an eighth grader in 2025-26.
• Alden opens Sept. 3 at home against Iroquois, with early September dates against Springville, Tonawanda and Holland also on the schedule.

Alden starts 2026 with a new varsity voice

Alden begins the 2026 girls soccer season with Louis Mussari in his first year as varsity head coach and a team he believes can set a standard beyond the scoreboard.

"This team will succeed on and off the field, they are positive minded athletes," Mussari said.

Mussari said he is excited to be part of the program and wants to help Alden "grow and continue to build on its success." Alden is coming off a 12-3-2 season in 2025-26, and Mussari pointed to the chance to become back-to-back regular-season divisional winners as one of the program storylines entering the fall.

The roster has a blend of returning seniors and new players. Mussari listed commitment as the team's biggest strength, and he wants Alden's identity to be rooted in smart soccer and good positional play.

"Our positional game will get stronger as the season continues and I expect it to be our strongest strength as we play together," Mussari said.

Captains and returning pieces

Emma Casillo and Zoe Turton will captain Alden this season. Casillo, a Class of 2027 midfielder, is also the player Mussari expects to organize the midfield and help control the way Alden plays.

Casillo had 10 assists and two goals as a junior in 2025-26, after recording five goals and seven assists as a sophomore in 2024-25. Mussari said Casillo is likely to break the program assists record this season.

Turton, a Class of 2027 midfielder, had four assists in 2025-26 and gives Alden another senior voice in the center of the roster.

Emily Lysiak, a Class of 2027 player listed as a forward, midfielder and defender, is another senior to watch. Mussari identified Lysiak as an important set-piece threat, either serving or finishing chances.

Schmitt and Canzoneri give Alden key storylines

Mussari named Elle Canzoneri as the returning player most likely to take a significant step forward. Canzoneri is a junior midfielder.

Ava Schmitt is the newly featured player Mussari singled out as a potential major contributor, though Schmitt is already familiar with the varsity level. The Class of 2030 forward had 28 goals and eight assists as an eighth grader in 2025-26.

Mussari said it is possible Schmitt could break the scoring record, and he described her as "a phenomenal soccer player" with a bright future.

Mussari praised Schmitt’s ability to use both feet, along with her power and speed.

Schedule landmarks

Alden opens the listed schedule Sept. 3 at home against Iroquois, then travels to Springville on Sept. 9 before returning home for Tonawanda on Sept. 12.

The September slate also includes road dates at Holland, JFK, Roy-Hart/Medina and Eden, followed by a home match Sept. 28 against Silver Creek/Forestville.

October brings home matches against Springville, Holland, Eden and JFK, plus a road match at Tonawanda on Oct. 3. For a team with a new varsity head coach, experienced captains and a ninth-grade forward already drawing attention, the season will track how quickly Alden turns commitment and positional growth into its on-field identity.