Marlaine Schneider doesn’t know the meaning of the word quit.
In last week’s showdown against Mount St. Joseph Academy, the Neshaminy senior somehow saved a ball that appeared heading out of bounds from crossing the end line. If that wasn’t enough, the never-say-die forward had the presence of mind to find teammate Moriah Allen with a pass at the top of the circle that set up the game-winning goal in the Redskins’ huge 2-0 win over the perennial state power.
“It was just all-out hustle,” Neshaminy coach Lisa Pennington said of Schneider’s play.
Later in the game, it was Schneider scoring the insurance goal for the Redskins. Again, the play was defined by Schneider’s all-out hustle.
“She was just working like a dog in front of the goal cage,” Pennington said of her senior forward. “She did not give up until the ball was in the goal cage.”
It’s the kind of effort Pennington has come to expect from her senior captain, who is a four-year starter.
“She’s the backbone of our team,” the Redskins’ coach said. “Anything we ask – she does. She works hard all the time. She listens and is very coachable, and she can play anywhere I ask her to play. She just gives 110 percent.”
In the Redskins’ season opener against Hatboro-Horsham, Schneider scored her team’s only goal to give Neshaminy a 1-0 overtime win, but it’s not scoring goals that makes the senior captain such an invaluable part of the team.
“She really doesn’t score a whole lot,” Pennington said. “But she’s the one getting the ball there – making the cross or putting the shot on goal cage for somebody else to tip it.
“She’s just a great all-around kid and player and gives 110 percent all the time. She may not be having her best game, but she’s always hustling.”
Schneider, who plays right wing, admits her mentality about scoring may have changed a bit this season.
“In the past, I have set up people because I just want to win,” she said. “This year Mrs. Pennington was telling me I deserve to score, so her positive encouragement gave me confidence.”
Schneider is eager to talk about her team’s big win over the Mount, although she has no interest in talking about her performance in that big win.
“It’s something spectacular,” she said of the win. “It’s not because of what I did, but it was because of our whole team coming together and our coaches and how much effort they put into it.
“If we keep playing the way we played on Tuesday, I think our team will do pretty good.”
Making the Redskins’ season-opening win over the Hatters especially significant was the fact that it was Hatboro that upset Neshaminy in the second round of the District One Tournament last year.
“That was really disappointing, but our team last year just didn’t click the way we are this year,” Schneider said. “This year we bonded a lot more, and there’s not any of that ‘I like you. You like me.’ We’re just all one big family.
“It’s completely different, and it shows on the field. I know where my teammates are, and they know where I am. I can count on them, and they can count on me.”
Schneider, who grew up playing softball and soccer, got her first taste of hockey in seventh grade.
“I wanted to play soccer, but all my friends were doing it,” she said. “I tried it, and I liked it. I liked the girls a lot.”
Hockey is part of Schneider’s life year-round, and she has been playing for the prestigious Mystix club team since 10th grade. Next year she plans to play at the collegiate level and is giving serious consideration to West Chester, Lehigh and Rider.
No matter where she goes, one thing undoubtedly won’t change.
“Marlaine is a team player,” Pennington said. “She’s not about herself at all.”
