Every few months, Matt Cameron, head coach of Oakwood’s under-17 girls team, checks in with the rest of his staff to discuss whether Lumi Kostmayer is on the right team.
It’s not a question of talent. The striker had 10 goals in 14 games during the Development Academy’s fall portion, after all.
The question, rather, is sparked by her rapid progress: Kostmayer is just 13.
“Every single time we’ve wondered, the answer is yes,” Cameron said. “If she goes down to the ‘03s, it wouldn’t be enough for her. You want someone like her to remain confident, but you also can’t hand them success.”
Kostmayer is an eighth-grader up playing against girls who could have their driver’s licenses. Her family, meanwhile, drives her to practice in Glastonbury, Conn., an hour from their Southbury, Conn., home.