On Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015, four Central Bucks West seniors were recognized for committing to play collegiate soccer. To view photos of the event, please visit the Photo Gallery. Group photo courtest of Marge Bullock.
Grace Bendon - St. Joseph’s University (Soccer)
Major: Secondary Education with a minor in History
Final list of colleges: St. Joe’s, Boston University, Stony Brook
Reasons for choosing St. Joe’s: “I chose St. Joe’s because it was close to home, and I loved the coaches. I just loved the atmosphere.”
What was the progression that led you to playing soccer at the collegiate level? “That has always been my goal since I started getting serious about soccer around the age of 12 or 13. That was my goal whether or not I wanted to play college soccer at the Division One level.”
Coach Jorge Rodriguez: “Grace was our leader. She was the one that changed the season for us in one practice, and everyone followed her lead as far as her intensity and her desire to win. I could talk about the technical stuff forever, but ultimately, what made the biggest impact was she pushed everybody to play better than they were, and she backed it up with herself playing that way. After that particular practice, Grace went on a tear. She completely dominated that (state) final game. Grace is a total leader."
Assistant coach Bri Benedict says: “Her work ethic – Grace is always looking to get better every day. We worked one-on-one, one-on-two with the other goalie, training and working on something specific to take her to the next level. We always joke that she has an ‘I’m always right mentality,’ but she’s just so confident in everything that she does that she could be wrong, and it’s still going to work out right because she does it with so much confidence.”
About Grace:
Favorite food: Mac ‘N Cheese
Favorite movie: Remember Me
Favorite music: Country or Pop Punk
Shea McCarty – University of Tampa (Soccer)
Major: Chemistry
Final list of colleges: Tampa, Drexel, NJIT
Reasons for choosing Tampa: “The weather was definitely one of the selling points. I’m not much of a cold (weather) person. I love just being warm all the time, and that’s 80-degree weather all year. I also have family down there, so that was a selling point too.”
What was the progression that led you to playing soccer at the collegiate level? “It started the middle of my junior year – people were starting to commit that I knew from my team, and my mom was like, ‘We have to get going on this process.’ We started looking at schools. We looked at Florida because I have family down there. The coach wasn’t coming to many tournaments I was going to, so I went to one recruiting camp. The coach knew from there and made me an offer the first time after one of the camps. I think that’s when I knew. After visiting and meeting the team, I loved it there.”
Coach Jorge Rodriguez says: “Shea was the leader on the attacking side. I think that’s why we were so successful this year because they (Bendon and McCarty) were a perfect partnering as far as two players on the opposite ends of the field. I had probably the best goalkeeper in the state, and I had probably the most dangerous attacking player in the state as well. She could score at will when she finds the openings. She’s absolutely a talent, and that’s what you need for a championship team.”
About Shea:
Favorite food: Lo Mein & Sour Gummy Worms
Favorite movie: Aquamarine
Favorite music: Alternative
Sophie McKnight – Elizabethtown College (Soccer)
Major: Physical Therapy
Final list of colleges: Elizabethtown, Stony Brook, Mercy College, Lock Haven, Mount St. Vincent
Reasons for choosing Elizabethtown: “They have a lot of really good career opportunities after college, and they have a very well-known and historic soccer program. My dad went there also and played soccer for them.”
What was the progression that led you to playing soccer at the collegiate level? “It was in my sophomore year because that’s when the club teams play the college showcase tournaments, and that’s when the coaches start to contact you and e-mail you. I had a lot of coaches contacting me, and that’s when it started.”
Coach Jorge Rodriguez says: “Sophie McKnight is just an incredible presence in the middle of the field, and the most important part of the field for any high school team to win is at the front of the 18. She was a complete wall defensively. I think she was the reason why we beat Pennsbury – she was a complete force in the middle of the field, but more importantly, she was still technical enough to connect from there, and that really helped us big time later when we had to change from long ball to possession. She is very versatile.”
About Sophie:
Favorite food: Any type of pasta
Favorite movie: Miracle & Remember the Titans
Favorite music: Country
Carmen Telesco – West Chester University (Soccer)
Major: Nutrition and Dietetics
Final list of colleges: West Chester, Ursinus, Monmouth, Arcadia
Reasons for choosing West Chester: “I liked the location, I liked the soccer program and the education – I liked their program for my major.”
What was the progression that led you to playing collegiate soccer? “I’ve always wanted to do it since I started playing high school soccer in 10th grade. The recruiting process started the beginning of my junior year.”
Coach Jorge Rodriguez says: “Carmen Telesco – you talk about a complete package for the team. You have your goalkeeper, you have your forward and you have Carmen who played for us everywhere on the field. She was that utility player, but she was more than a utility player because whatever position she played she was the best at, she excelled at. We were able to make adjustments against teams because of her. She was one of those key pieces that makes every team flexible.”
About Carmen:
Favorite food: Chicken Parmesan
Favorite movie: Remember the Titans
Favorite music: Alternative
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