Women’s Soccer Columns

Women’s Soccer Columns

Back to school! The new academic year means a whole new look at what’s right about college sports

by Laurie Bollig August 17, 2011 in Women’s Soccer,

Freshmen are arriving on campuses across the country over the next few weeks, ready to begin a new chapter in their young lives. And seniors are moving back into familiar dorm rooms or apartments and falling back in to the same routines they have developed during their collegiate careers all the while knowing that a new chapter in their lives will soon begin. There’s comfort in knowing that while some things change, other things stay the same.

As a Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award… Continue Reading

Former soccer winner finds new ways to impact her community after graduation

by Stephanie Lopez Cox November 15, 2010 in Women’s Soccer,

The Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award is a portrait of a well-rounded student-athlete, who is not only successful on the field and in the classroom, but demonstrates compassion and service in their community.  After winning this award my senior year at the University of Portland, I realized that the four pillars of the award - Community, Classroom, Character and Competition - were something I should strive to pursue in my professional and personal life.  Though, these areas weren’t so easily… Continue Reading

Early obstacles become springboards to career paths for soccer standouts

by Taylor T. Bern October 18, 2010 in Women’s Soccer,

Katherine Sheeleigh turned the most frustrating time of her adult life into a career path.

A soccer player at Harvard and one of 10 finalists for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award, Sheeleigh is familiar with success. But she faced a great deal of adversity to get to that point, and in that respect, she has a lot in common with fellow finalist Rachel Shipley of Texas A&M.

The Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award honors senior student-athletes who exemplify the four Cs — community, classroom,… Continue Reading

The sky is the limit for women’s soccer candidates with championship experience

by Taylor T. Bern September 20, 2010 in Women’s Soccer,

Every time Amanda DaCosta takes the field for Florida State, the same message is written on the underside of her wrist: “The sky’s the limit.”

“It just reminds me that you can go as far as you want to go if you let yourself,” DaCosta said.

It’s a sentiment shared by all 30 of the candidates for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award, specifically those whose teams have reached the ultimate stage in women’s soccer.

Five of this year’s candidates have been on… Continue Reading

Peterson and Yeisley represent “all the good kids” in winning the Senior CLASS Award

by Maria Burns Ortiz December 14, 2009 in Women’s Soccer, Women’s Soccer,

The student athletes who least expect recognition often deserve it most. They are the ones who excel in the classroom and at athletics. The ones who give up their free time to volunteer in their communities. The ones teammates look to for leadership. The ones who stay positive in the face of adversity – whether it’s on the playing field or in life.

Such is a fitting description for Texas A&M’s Emily Peterson and Penn State’s Jason Yeisley, the 2009 recipients of the Lowe’s… Continue Reading

Army women’s soccer standout Elizabeth Betterbed believes in character first

by Michael Lewis November 16, 2009 in Women’s Soccer,

Elizabeth Betterbed seems to be the living embodiment of the old Army recruiting slogan: Be all you can be.

As a senior at the United States Military Academy, Betterbed is ranked No. 1 in her class, is a Deputy Brigade Commander and an important member of the Army women’s soccer team.

For her achievements, Betterbed has been selected one of 10 women’s finalists for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award.

She loves it at West Point.

“After… Continue Reading

Statistics don’t tell the whole story of Dartmouth’s Myra Sack

by Eric Anderson October 19, 2009 in Women’s Soccer,

Angie Hind knows a good soccer player when she sees one.

She played at the game’s top level in her native Scotland, spending 17 years with FC Kilmarnock and three years with the Scottish national team. She also has an A-level coaching license from the Scottish Football Association and was a coach in the national team program for five years before coming to the U.S. to join the coaching staff at Dartmouth College.

But one thing has bothered Hind, who’s now in her fifth… Continue Reading

Juvenile diabetes hasn’t slowed men’s and women’s soccer standouts

by Michael Lewis September 21, 2009 in Women’s Soccer, Women’s Soccer,

It is difficult enough to be a successful student-athlete these days. Add a disease such as diabetes and the challenge becomes even greater.

Two college soccer players have managed not only to survive, but have thrived on every front. That’s a big reason why University of North Carolina-Greensboro defender Lauren Lopez and George Mason midfielder Richard Edgar are candidates for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award. They don’t feel sorry for themselves one bit. They go out and… Continue Reading

Pride in Classroom Leads to Off Field Winners

by Martin Renzhofer December 13, 2008 in Women’s Soccer,

Maybe because the sport relies on 90 minutes of concentration, knowing one slip can mean the difference between victory and defeat, women’s soccer attracts its share of classroom achievers.

For example, Cache Valley is the home of Utah State. The campus and town are located somewhat isolated in an open pocket of the Wasatch Mountains in northern Utah.

Unless the college landscape shifts with a sudden, unexpected jolt, Utah State will never be known as a power base for women’s… Continue Reading

The Past Has Proven the Need for Senior Leadership

by Gayle Bryan November 07, 2008 in Women’s Soccer,

Heather O’Reilly and the University of North Carolina Tar Heels’ run to the 2006 NCAA College Cup Championship provide a perfect example of the impact senior leadership can have on a team.

The 2006 Tar Heels were a very young team in stark contrast to the 2005 version, which was loaded with senior talent and leadership. When the second half of the College Cup final began, there were seven freshmen on the field. O’Reilly was no longer the young pup playing alongside veterans Lindsay… Continue Reading