« Women’s Soccer 2009

Myra Sack

School
Dartmouth College
Position
Midfielder
Major
Government
G
3
A
4
PTS
10

Classroom

A government major, Sack has maintained an impressive 3.61 grade point average throughout her time at Dartmouth. She has taken full advantage of Dartmouth’s unique four-quarter academic system, traveling to foreign countries twice. During the winter of her sophomore year she studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain, and in her junior winter traveled to Nicaragua to volunteer for Soccer Without Borders. After returning from a service trip to Nicaragua, Sack and two teammates participated in an independent study called The Intersection of women and Sports in Latin American Countries, which reflected on their experiences abroad. The College has taken interest in using their model for other student terms abroad. Sack has received multiple awards for her success in the classroom as well as the field including: NSCAA Scholar All-America second team, NSCAA Scholar All-Northeast first team and Academic All-Ivy. She is currently applying for a fellowship that would allow her to spend the next year after graduation working for Soccer Without Borders with nearly equal portions of time being spent in the US and in South America.

Character

A 2009 team captain, Sack is a woman of exceptional character – it is evident in her actions on the soccer field, with teammates, on campus, with peers, elders and youth. She is thoughtful in her actions and words and is mindful that she represents Dartmouth soccer at all times. Her coach, Angie Hind, says: “Myra is such a positive influence in everything she does and everyone she is around. Her relentless drive and dedication towards her academics, sport and community development are quite simply astounding. I have been privileged to work with many very special young women but Myra is absolutely exceptional as a role model, leader and mentor for so, so many. She is the type of young women who strives constantly to make a difference - to date she has certainly made her mark. I have no doubt the impact she will make in future years will be even greater.”

Community

Community service is a part of life for Sack. She was the recipient of Dartmouth’s Class of 1950 Award for Community Service in 2008-09. She is constantly giving of herself to others in a variety of ways including starting her own youth sports initiative in the Dartmouth area. Sack and teammate Becky Poskin founded Athletes United, a program that provides a free sports league to underprivileged local youth. Many children outside the immediate campus neighborhood lack the resources to participate in sports leagues and this provides a cost-free alternative. Dartmouth student-athletes coach teams of youth athletes with weekly practices and games in a variety of sports based on season. During the winter of 2009, Sack traveled to Nicaragua to volunteer for Soccer Without Borders, an organization that seeks to improve the lives of marginalized youth through soccer and sport. Sack and her fellow coaches helped teach the local youth, particularly girls, life skills through activities on the soccer field. She was immersed in the local culture and also worked to prepare local teachers to continue their work in fitness, sports and health education. Additionally, Sack has volunteered to mentor local youth and worked with Special Olympics. At home in Pennsylvania, she is in her fourth year as a volunteer coach for an AAU basketball program. She always spends time with children who attend the Dartmouth games as well. She has been the recipient of the Dartmouth Dickey Center Grant for her service project in Nicaragua and the Dean of the College Award for Service in 2008.

Competition

On the soccer field, Sack has made significant contributions as a starter since her freshman season. She runs the midfield from both an offensive and defensive side and does whatever her team and coaches ask of her. As a junior, she brought home a multitude of awards including first team All-Ivy and first team NSCAA All-Northeast. She was named to the Virginia Classic All-Tournament team and received her team’s Fernald Cup for ability, enthusiasm, leadership, sportsmanship and dedication to Dartmouth women’s soccer. In her junior year she started all 16 games and played nearly every minute of the season, leading the team in scoring with three goals and five assists for 11 points in midfield. She earned All-Ivy honorable mention accolades as both a freshman and sophomore, starting 27 of 31 games played and tallying four assists in those seasons. Sack helped Dartmouth earn a national ranking as high as 13th her freshman season. So far in 2009, Sack has the Dartmouth women off to a 3-3 start including an upset of #12 West Virginia to win the 2009 Virginia Classic Tournament, where she was named Tournament MVP. Sack also scored a goal in Dartmouth’s 3-1 season-opening win over Maine. On Sept.
14, she was named to the Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week and the Dartmouth Athletics Female Athlete of the Week.