Payton Galuski, a standout midfielder from Waterford‑Halfmoon, announced that she will not play high school soccer this fall as she dedicates herself to the FC Stars club program in the Elite Clubs National League.
The decision follows a breakout sophomore season in which she became the first girl to earn all‑state recognition on the boys’ varsity team, recording 19 goals and 18 assists, and after capturing back‑to‑back state championships with the girls’ team in seventh and eighth grade.
Galuski, a Penn State women’s soccer commit, recently earned the U16 ECNL New England Conference Player of the Year honor and was named an ECNL All‑American for the 2025‑26 season, highlighting her rapid rise in elite youth soccer.
Waterford‑Halfmoon coach Ryan Hardy voiced full support for Galuski’s choice, stating that the team will adjust its formation and that her influence will remain evident through practice and attendance at games.
The FC Stars schedule features an intensive travel regimen, beginning with a tournament in Virginia this weekend, as the midfielder balances her academic commitments at Waterford‑Halfmoon High School with ambitions of professional play and a future U.S. national team call‑up.
A New Chapter for a Rising Star
Looking ahead, Galuski aims to refine her weaknesses while leveraging her strengths to attract professional scouts and, ultimately, a spot on the senior U.S. national team.