SVHS Senior Spotlight: Alicia Binn

By Richard Hafner

Saucon Valley senior Alicia Binn first played soccer in the Saucon Valley intramural league as a five-year-old. She continued playing as a member of the Saucon Valley travel team when she was nine. Alicia also played for five years as a member of the Lehigh Valley United Premier team.

The four-year varsity starter says she enjoyed "playing soccer at a high level with some of my best friends."

"I'm thankful to have had such a dedicated coach who helps me on and off the field," she added. "I've had a fun and exciting experience being part of the first girls' soccer team to win a Colonial League and District XI Championship at Saucon."

Her lone regret would be failing to win back-to-back Colonial and District XI championships and not qualifying for 2013 state championship play. The Panthers finished the 2013 season with a 16-5 record.

Coach Stevie Ochse coached Alicia, who now holds the Panther record for career goals, having kicked 85 goals during her four years at Saucon.

"Alicia is tough yet has a kind, sweet side," Ochse said, adding that Binn is both "intelligent" and "very gifted."

"She was always serious at practice," Ochse said. "She can beat you with speed and tenacity. Give her an opening and she would take advantage of it and score."

Alicia scored some of Saucon's biggest goals when the team needed them, such as the third goal in the District finals and another at the state tournament, Ochse added. 

"I'll miss her and her sister celebrating after goals, [which] will always be immortalized in my head," she said.

Alicia was named the team's MVP at the 2013 Saucon Valley Fall Sports recognition ceremony on Nov. 20.

Some of her other career accomplishments include:

—2012 All-State Team selection
—Three-time All-Colonial League 1st Team (2011-13)
—Two-time Express-Times All-Area 1st Team (2012-13)

Alicia's year-by-year career stats include:

GOALS: 9 16 32 28 (85 goals total—a Saucon Valley record)
ASSISTS: 5 7 10 4 (26 total assists)
POINTS: 23 39 74 60 (196 total points scored)

Alicia credits her mom as the person she looks to as her role model.

Although she expects to play soccer next year at college, it will be just for fun, she said.

In addition to playing, for the last three years she served as a referee at intramural games.

Her favorite subject is math and her favorite recreational activities include hiking, biking and reading. She also likes burgers and seafood.

Alicia has a younger sister, Lauren, and a younger brother, Brandon. She is the daughter of Donna Binn.

Photos by Richard Hafner