When it comes to Callie Gillen’s accomplishments, the numbers and accolades speak for themselves.
The Valley View midfielder compiled 108 points, including 42 goals and 24 assists, helped the Cougars capture two district titles and was a two-time Times-Tribune All-Region selection and a four-time Lackawanna League Division I coaches’ all-star.
However, the day that encapsulated who Gillen is as a player and a person came during the District 2 Class 3A championship game of her junior season.
In the midst of an overtime battle with Crestwood, Gillen suffered an injury that was later diagnosed as a fractured femur and was helped off the field. Even though she had every right to sit out the rest of the game, Gillen refused to quit on the team and especially refused to quit on her senior teammate and sister, Shannon. She returned to the game, and the Cougars won in a shootout to advance to the state tournament.
“I remember driving there. We were like, this is your senior year, we have to win this,” Gillen said. “Just winning that title for her, it definitely meant a lot.”
That day showed the dedication she gave to Valley View for four years, and what she’ll bring to Division I Le Moyne College in the fall.
“Callie’s just the ultimate competitor,” Valley View coach Paul Sotak said. “She’s a true leader and she was our engine. You can have a real nice looking car, but if you don’t have someone to kind of link things up from the defense to the attack, you really don’t have much. And she just did everything for us in the midfield. She is by far one of the most skilled players I’ve had the privilege to coach, and she just came up clutch whenever we needed her to.”
Before she sets her sights on college soccer, Gillen will play one last game alongside Lackawanna League seniors, including five of her teammates — Mya Cesarini, Abby Davis, Riley Hilling, Aubrey O’Donnell and Emmelia Rucks — at the UNICO Soccer Cup all-star game, which is scheduled for Sunday at noon at Mid Valley Spartan Stadium.
The boys game follows at 2 p.m. The games are sponsored by the UNICO Scranton chapter, who is partnering with the American Cancer Society to raise money for cancer awareness.
“I’m super excited, not just because I’m with my teammates, but I’m going to be with a bunch of amazing players, one of them being my best friend (Mid Valley’s) Sofia (Goetter),” Gillen said. “I never got to play with her before, so I’m super excited for that especially. And her twin, Karina. I think it’s just great because they’re amazing players — everyone on my team and on the opposing team, of course. It’s just great to play one last time, especially on (Mid Valley’s) field. It’s such a nice field, too.”
In Gillen’s freshman year, when she had five goals and eight assists, the Cougars captured a district title and won a state playoff game, and she experienced part of what makes playing a sport at Valley View great.
“All four years, we had great supporters in our stands, especially when my freshman year we won districts and then we played our first state game on the turf,” Gillen said. “I never saw that many people at a girls soccer game before. It was crazy. I really do believe that’s what pushed us through to win two district titles.”
Gillen had six goals and three assists as a sophomore, and 11 goals and seven assists as a junior.
Her senior year, Gillen compiled 46 points, including 20 goals and six assists, and delivered in clutch moments. Against Mid Valley, she headed in a free kick to give the Cougars a 1-0 double-overtime victory. She also scored a second-half goal in a 1-0 win over Scranton Prep, and netted four goals in a 5-0 win over Wallenpaupack. She helped lead Valley View to a 13-2-1 record, with the two losses and tie coming against Abington Heights, the District 2 Class 3A champion and state quarterfinalist.
Before the season, Gillen committed to Le Moyne College, which became a Division I program in 2023.
“I chose Le Moyne because of the coaching,” Gillen said. “I went there on my visit, and the coaches — (assistant) coach Brooke (Barnes) especially at the time, she was awesome. I had a tour and the facility was great, and just the way that she talked about the team culture was amazing. That’s what I was really looking for was a team that would support me and that’s what they do there.”
She’ll be joined by former rival Abington Heights’ Hawley Lynott, who also committed to the Dolphins in August.
“I think it’s great just to have someone there for the transition because it’s definitely going to be hard. I’m excited,” Gillen said. “We’ve been talking, which is really nice to know that I’m already going to have a friend there.”
Gillen certainly continued the family tradition of soccer success at Valley View. She cherished playing alongside her sister, a first-team coaches’ all-star, and following in the footsteps of her brother Shay, an all-state player and two-time Times-Tribune All-Region selection.
“My family has definitely been there throughout literally everything,” Gillen said. “They’re always there to support me. Playing with my sister definitely meant a lot to me, but not only her. My brother, he was a really good soccer player and growing up with him, he definitely pushed me a lot harder than if I didn’t have a brother, of course, because that’s what brothers do. He trains me all the time when he’s home, and my dad does the same thing.”