SLSG Premeir Qualifies for Nationals! Kathryn Modeer Alumni Spotlight

SLSG Premier Qualifies for Nationals!  Kathryn Modeer Alumni Spotlight

Congratulations to the SLSG Premier U17 Girls for finishing top of the table in the USYS National League Blue division. The girls finished the National League season 5-1-1.  This past weekend in Orlando, FL they completed the 2nd half of the season, finishing in style with a 2-0-1 record to clinch first place in their division. By finishing in first place, the team has qualified for the USYS National Championships to be held in July at the Reach 11 Soccer Complex in Phoenix, AZ.   This is a huge achievement for the team which is made up of girls from both Illinois and Missouri.  It is especially exciting for the nucleus of the team, which has been together since they were U11's.  Joining SLSG Premier at the National Championships will be the 4 Regional Tournament Champions that will be crowned in June along with NSA from Chicago who also won their division of the National League this past weekend with a win over the Dallas Texans.

Weekend Recap

Goalkeeper Jess Perry

In game 1, Molly Brewer scored the lone goal in a 1-0 victory over Brentwood Premier out of Tennessee.  On day 2, Erin McGauley found the back of the net from a long throw-in to ensure a 1-0 victory over a talented FC Penn (PA) team.  The final day of the event and the teams’ final match of the season saw the team only needing a draw to secure a berth in the National Championships.  This would be no easy task competing against a very good Toro Bravo team (NE), however, GK Jess Perry recorded her 3rd straight shutout to secure a 0-0 result thus sealing the invitation to Nationals.  For securing this berth, the girls will be honored this Friday night at the Missouri Athletic Club during the Hermann Award Banquet.

Congratulations

The need to get results in each game is very difficult when playing against the best of the best.  The trials and tribulations that go along with the pursuit of National Title are many and my hat goes off to Coach Tony and his team.  For all of us that have won a National Championship, it is extremely rewarding and gratifying and no one can ever take that accomplishment away from you.  The girls are still not there, but after this past weekend, they are one step closer.  Congratulations to the coaches, Tony Schmitt and Denny Hearne and, especially, the girls for their achievement. 

CONGRATULATIONS GIRLS AND GOOD LUCK!   Haley Albert, Taylor Berutti, Emily Bollinger, Nicole Breece, Molly Brewer, Ashley Burton, Kinsley Fitzpatrick, Storm French, Maddie Friedmann, Lauren Fussell, Amy Harrington, Paige Luehmann, Taylor Lindwedel, Erin McGauley, Haylye Markway, Jenn Miller, Jesse Perry, Kayla Seabaugh

Succeeding on the National Stage

Succeeding at the highest levels of the current youth game is very difficult.  In the old youth model, coaches had a year to prepare players for a State Cup run.  If you could reach the Finals at State Cup, the team was deemed to have had a successful year.  This, however, is no longer the case.  Now, at the highest levels of the youth game, (Academy, National League, ECNL, MRL) teams have to be good over a continuous period of time if they are to have a successful season.  The Academy season is nearly 30 games long and the ECNL, MRL & National league are 7-10 games per season over a several month period.   For the first time in my 15 years of being involved with the youth game in this community, we are finally arriving at a point where once players reach a certain age and level, every game is important.  The creation of an environment where every game matters will only help to push elite players to develop beyond levels previously seen.  This evolution is a very positive and long overdue step to better serve the elite level player in the United States.

Alumni Spotlight:

Kathryn Modeer

Kathryn played for Metro United as a GK and graduated from Edwardsville HS in 2006.  My recollections of Kathryn are of a shy girl coming to training with matching outfits (we did not have training gear in those days) and giggling through practice.  I particularly remember her as a U9 or U10 getting put in on a breakaway (she played forward at the time) and getting caught from behind by the recovering defenders.  When she came off of the field later that game, she said that she had panicked because it sounded like a herd of cattle was chasing her!

She is far removed from those days.  Kathryn is now in China attending East China Normal University.  While completing her undergraduate degree at Auburn University and studying Economics, she went to Chongqing with a study abroad program.  While in China she was touched by the people of China and was struck by the small input the people of China have in their government.  When she returned to Auburn, she decided to minor in Chinese and pursue her lifelong dream of going to law school.  Currently she has been accepted to the Penn State School of Law and will complete her law studies upon her return from China where she is finalizing her intensive Chinese Language Studies. When her studies are complete, she wants to go back to China to help amplify the voice of the Chinese factory workers who currently have little say in their situation.

One of the most gratifying parts of coaching is seeing the development of the players we work with as youth into adults and contributors to society.  Our program has always been committed to aiding in the development of both quality soccer players and quality people.  Kathryn is certainly headed in that direction.  We are so happy that she has found her life’s work.