Springfield MO Soccer

Anyone who thought I was done with college recruiting articles or alliteration has another thing coming to them Show of hands - who didn’t have to click on that link?

Paige signed her Letter of Intent to play soccer for the Drury Panthers on February 1st and is preparing to complete her final season as a Kickapoo Chief, with the season’s start approaching quickly (see the Countdown on the right). Chief’s fans know Paige’s story is unusual because last season she was listed as a sophomore, now she’s a senior. That’s only the first in many aspects of her alternative path to Division 2 College Soccer. It’s easy to love her story for that reason alone.

Born and raised in Springfield, Paige began playing soccer, with the boys, in the YMCA youth program about the same time she began school. It was not the only sport she played and that competitive spirit has been a consistent element of her game from the beginning. Somewhere around 4th grade she joined the Spirit girls, a team that has fostered many of our best girls players. Coached initially by Scott Bailes & Rick McLain, it wasn’t long before Chad Jaeger (Drury) was brought on board to nurture these budding stars. Soon afterwards she also joined a competitive basketball club team, leading up to her middle school years.

Her greatest athletic success in that period was not on the soccer pitch but on the hardwood as the Cherokee Middle School team won the City Championship twice, in the 7th and the 8th grade, going undefeated during that two year period. Oh, and did I mention that she she won the City Championship in the 400 and long jump as an eighth grader!

Entering Kickapoo she was promoted to the JV basketball team as a freshman and also started on the soccer team in the spring. She shared goalkeeping responsibilities with Kiley Martin during the 2004 season (remember Senkosksy & Bushman going up against Erin Hainey and the other Chiefs?) in a season that saw both girls suffer injuries. Paige posted six shutouts that season.

She moved to right side defender last year, partnering with Whitney Hall and Hilary Dorland in anchoring the Chief’s District 12 Championship back line. She has not played club soccer however, initially because of the basketball commitment and more recently because of a nagging knee ailment that turned out to be a partially torn ligament that was diagnosed one week before basketball practice began in October, finishing her high school basketball career. After six weeks on crutches and extensive rehab, she’s ready to join her teammates on the pitch for what could well be a run to state.

Paige will be the first to tell you her soccer resume doesn’t match that of some of her teammates, both present and future. A two year starter for the District 12 Champions, along with a Class 2 District 12 Honorable Mention in 2005, is one step in the right direction. It also has not limited her opportunities as she has also drawn recruiting interest from SBU, Westminster and some other schools. Here’s what her coach, Tom Davidson, has to say:

Paige is a very versitile athlete that can excel at many positions. We wish we could have had her for all four years here at KHS. She has been a huge asset to our program. She is an exceptioal student as well, and should fit in well at Drury. With her work ethic, Paige should be able to make an impact soon with Chris and the Lady Panthers.

Here’s my take - this is a girl that will not be stopped when she sets her mind to achieving a goal. I’m privy to her academic achievements and I wish I could have pointed her towards my alma mater, UM-Rolla. She’s exploring a a Criminal Justice degree with the possibility of law school or an FBI career afterward. We probably won’t see her pursue politics as her maturity and forthrightness would be liabilities. I have a soft spot for Paige because she was THE FIRST person to ‘get’ what I was doing with this website last Spring, offering comments and suggestions both on-line and via email. With the 1 v 1 challenge being one of her favorite aspects of the game, I’m putting my cash on Paige!

Look for #11 against Catholic or in this clip against Glendale
View this clip on Vimeo