Nick Burke has coached at NEFC for more than a decade, seeing dozens of talented players come through the region. Thus, his perspective on where Gabby Del Pico, a No. 10 for the club’s U-19 Development Academy team, fits within the landscape comes with some added perspective.
“She’s a top, top level player,” said Burke, now NEFC’s academy director. “Going forward, she’s always been in and around the national pool. U.S. Soccer speaks to us and she’s always someone they’re looking at. Going forward, she might have opportunities.”
A call-up has never come for Del Pico, a Harvard University commit and Brockton, Mass., native. But that’s hardly a slight on the player, one whose early club soccer days came at soon-to-be DA club South Shore Select.