On Monday, Feb. 7, 2011, Pennsbury senior Kyle MacDonald was recognized at a special news conference in PHS-TV studios for signing a letter of intent to accept a soccer scholarship to Penn State University.
In the championship game at the 2011 U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships in Phoenix, Arizona, on July 31, MacDonald converted a penalty kick in the 89thminute to propel his YMS Thunder squad to a 1-0 win over Alpharetta Ambush 93 Red (Georgia), leading YMS to the championship in the Under-18 division. MacDonald earned scoring honors and was named tournament MVP. It is the first national championship for YMS Thunder.
Kyle MacDonald – Penn State University (Soccer)
Major: Architecture Engineering or Civil Engineering
Final list of colleges: Penn State, Lehigh, Lafayette, Carnegie Mellon, Pitt
Reasons for choosing Penn State: “There’s a rich tradition of academic excellence and athletic legacy. The whole total package Penn State offers – there are plenty of majors if I decide against my intended major. Also, location was a big factor in my decision. I didn’t want to be too close to my home, but it also was important that my family and friends could come up and see me play and visit.”
What was the progression that led you to playing collegiate soccer? “When I started thinking about soccer as an essential part of my life at the start of my teenage years, I thought, ‘I like this sport enough that it’s definitely a possibility that I should look towards working towards a college scholarship and playing at the next level.’
“Soccer is a huge part of my life. I always followed Penn State when I was younger, and my sister went to Penn State. Just the fact that I attracted the attention of a very competitive and very successful Division One program in the sport I love and ultimately reaching my goal of taking the sport to the next level – there’s nothing better than the feeling of that.”
Coach Tom Stoddart says: “Kyle is a tremendous kid. In my estimation, he is 100 percent self-made. I would like to think I’ve had an influence on him, but he works so hard – whether it be soccer, his studies or anything.
“On the soccer field, he’s the whole nine yards. He might not be as naturally talented as some other people, but he works so hard, and he spends so much time with a ball on his foot. He’s very comfortable with a ball on his foot, and he just reads and anticipates the game extremely, extremely well.
“The bottom line is it comes down to preparation. You’ll never meet anybody that is more prepared to do things than Kyle. Whether it’s soccer or studying, he fully prepares himself to do whatever he needs to do to get the job done. That’s why when they had a big shot to be taken (in the national championship game), he’s the guy you’d put on the line because he prepares for that situation. I have never met anybody that prepares themselves better than Kyle does.
“Kyle is flat out a special kid. He’s quiet, but if you have the opportunity to get to know the kid, you’re better off for knowing him.”
Assistant coach Mike Lindemann says: "He is probably one of the nicest kids you will ever come across. Not only was he such a nice kid and worked hard on the field - probably harder than anyone I've ever seen - in school he's like a genius. He's absolutely unbelievable.
"He was our captain, and he was probably one of the best captains by leading by example. He did all the things that people usually don't see - made sure all the balls were cleaned up, making sure things are organized.
"His soccer skills are probably one of the best to come out of this area as far as his foot skills. I know he touches the ball probably 10 hours out of the day, and he does things with a ball most people can't do, which is why he was looked at by Penn State. The other thing people don't see - because of intelligence off the field, his soccer knowledge - knowing where to be at a certain time, knowing how to defend certain people - is very, very high. He's always in the right place, and his effort level is out the roof."
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