Catasauqua girls’ soccer head coach Randy Gillespie isn’t one to make excuses, but if he wanted to he certainly could find some.

The second-year coach has watched his team be ravaged by injuries all season. In the process, the Roughies lost five starters, but they still have managed to piece together a 4-8 overall record through their first 12 games.

“We have been competitive all year,” said Gillespie. “The biggest thing was losing the starters. We have really made good use out of our bench this season. We are starting to get some (starters) back, but the injuries really have been the story for us this year.”

Gillespie noted the loss of senior Becca Harakal, who went down with a broken ankle early into the season. The injuries have heightened the team’s 20-player roster, especially among the substitutions. Gillespie had played some girls with little playing experience.

“Those are the types of things that are hurting us,” he said. ‘’It is great to have the younger girls get the experience, but the timing of it isn’t the greatest. Yet, we have managed to get through it.”

The Roughies remained in the hunt for a district playoff bid in Class 2A as they began the week in the seventh spot of the nine-team field. Overall, they have produced some memorable wins.

“We beat Moravian Academy (2-1 on Sept. 16) and that was a huge win for us,” said Gillespie. “About a week later, we beat Pen Argyl (3-2 on Sept. 22) in overtime and that was also big for us. If we got some wins down the stretch, we can put ourselves in a position for a district berth. That would be a great way to end the season.”

Among some of his younger players, Gillespie credited the efforts of freshmen Hailey Baez along Madison Hicks, who has been in the nets for the Roughies before she went down with an injury. Sophomore Allanah George has been steady in her absence.

“Hailey Baez is one of the younger players who has stepped up for us, and Madison Hicks had been doing a great job for us before she went down.”

The Roughies will graduate nine seniors this year and injuries cut the potential and promise short from the strides they made from their five-win season last year. It was the makings of a foundation from a program that went 0-36 the previous two seasons.

Still, Gillespie knows the future is bright.

“Our seniors are our biggest class and we will miss them,” said Gillespie. “Overall, I have been satisfied with the way we have played this year. Our biggest issue has been scoring. We need to find ways to put the ball in the net,

“Injuries are part of the game and the rest of the girls have to step up. We’ll keep fighting the rest of the away and see what happens.”