Galuski settles into new role
Waterford girls’ soccer standout now on boys’ team
WATERFORD — Payton Galuski achieved so much as a varsity soccer player before reaching high school that it had the Waterford-halfmoon freshman contemplating a change for the 2024 season. A standout midfielder who helped lead the Fordians to back-to-back Class C girls’ soccer state titles in 2022 and 2023 considered only playing travel soccer this fall. Instead, she sought out Waterford-halfmoon
boys’ soccer coach Ryan Hardy about joining his team.
“She came, we gave her the tryout and she made the team,” Hardy said. “She is second on the team in goals and is first in assists. I know the season is young, but she is a great player.”
Galuski, named both the Times Union Small School Athlete of the Year and Class C state Player of the Year in 2022 as a seventh-grader, helped the Fordians share the 2023 Class C state championship with Mount Academy. These days, she is looking to aid the boys’ team’s attempt at winning a second straight Section II Class C title. Galuski has also made a position switch to striker.
“It has been fun,” Galuski said. “It is faster. Way faster. All of your decisions have to be quicker.”
Mechanicville coach Mike Ciulla praised the play of Galuski. His team defeated Waterford-halfmoon 5-0 Monday evening in Wasaren League action.
“I went to watch her play against Maple Hill. I told my guys you can’t leave her open. If she is open, she is going to find spots,” Ciulla said. “She is deadly with her foot.”
“She does all the right things. The main thing we told her is she has to get off the ball quicker,” Hardy said. “It is a quicker game and that is what
Payton Galuski is the second-leading scorer and is tops in assists for the Fordians so far this season.
she has been doing. She gets rid of the ball quickly and finds the open guy. She sees the field so well. It is great having her on the team.”
During her 2022 season, Galuski amassed 39 goals and 21 assists. Last fall when she was again named as a Class A state first-team all-star, Galuski scored 41 goals and added 19 assists. During that time, Galuski got the chance to play with her older sister Addyson Galuski, who now is a freshman playing at Hartwick College.
Just one week prior to practice beginning this season, Galsuki made her intentions known to Hardy.
“I wanted to be able to increase the speed of my game and how quickly I play,” Galuski said.
“Seeing what she did winning state titles as a seventh- and eighth-grader, you knew she is at a very high level and then you add in all the travel teams she is on and the developmental team with the U.S., she is truly a special player,” Hardy said. “She likes to win and knows how to win. She has a lot of speed and knows where to go with the ball. Her soccer IQ is simply tremendous. You can’t really teach it. She has it. It is great to have.”
When asked what her biggest fear was regarding her choice to switch teams, Galuski said, “That people were going to judge me being a girl on a boys’ team. I was scared at first because I didn’t think anyone would talk to me.”
“I think she really enjoys it. She was shy at first, but I think she likes it a lot,” Hardy said.
Helping Galuski with her move playing boys’ soccer has been someone who knows exactly what the freshman is experiencing: Claire Hutton, who starred for both the boys’ and girls’ teams at Bethlehem before graduating early and becoming a pro player at age 17 with the Kansas City Current. Hutton is a member of the U-20 national team.
“I talk to her. I update her on what is going on and she updates me at what she is doing,” Galuski said of Hutton.
“What she is doing is impressive,” Ciulla said. “You see my guys. They are physical. It is good for her. She is only going to get better from this.”
Galuski, who says scoring goals on the boys’ team provides the same thrill as when she did so with the girls’ team, said some opponents have tried to intimidate her. It is something she was prepared for, but isn’t worried about because she knows her teammates have her back.
“I got warned by my dad not to say anything and just let it go,” Galuski said. “I think I will be OK.”
“The team is very supportive of her. There was never any issues with that at all,” Hardy said. “They love having her because they know she can help us win. They want to win and they know with her with us she can help.”
Once her season concludes, Galuski will once again resume training in the Olympic Development Program, She has been part of it for two years. Before her time in ODP, Galuski wants to help lead the boys’ team to another Class C championship.
“That would be cool,” Galuski said.