The Port Byron field hockey team has grown in leaps and bounds over the past three seasons, and junior Ali Short has been right in the middle of the Panthers' improvement.

A veteran though just a junior, Short led the team goals and was named first-team, all-league, and has been selected as The Citizen's field hockey Player of the Year.

“I know that she's a really talented athlete in general,” Grunder said. “I coached her in softball one year as well, and she's just a really hard worker. She is willing to put in the time and the effort to be the strong player that she is. She works hard when she has to and that's probably one of her biggest assets.”

Short is a three-sport athlete, playing on the softball teams in addition to field hockey.

She got off to the 2008-2009 seasons in field hockey, scoring 14 goals and adding two assists - including a five-goal performance against Southern Springs.

Still, Short is eager to get even better.

“She's always asking me how she thinks she did at games at what she can do to be better,” Grunder said. “She's a really dedicated player. I think her hard work gives her that drive to be such a good player and be aggressive in the circle and score all the goals that she scored for us this season.”

This season the Panthers started off strong, winning five of their first six games before hitting a skid with league leaders Cortland and Cazenovia, then a tilt against Class A Rome Free Academy. Port Byron bounced back to make the playoffs but lost in the first round.

Still the improvement was evident. The Panthers went from winning just four games in 2007 to seven in 2008 and Grunder is hoping that Port Byron can surpass this season's success in 2009.

Short will factor in to the team's success.

“I expect the same, maybe more,” Grunder said. “I know that she'll continue to be that dedicated person.”