On Friday, Feb. 7, 2014, Neshaminy seniors Amy Heller, McKenna Mullin, Megan Schafer and Katie Suchodolski were recognized at a special news conference for signing letters of intent to play soccer at the collegiate level. To view photos of the signing, please visit the Photo Gallery.
Cardinal Camera sponsors all SOL college signings on SuburbanOneSports.com. For additional information about purchasing a commemorative keepsake of the signing, please click on the following link: http://www.suburbanonesports.com/forms/college-signings.
Amy Heller – Philadelphia University (Soccer)
Major: Accounting
Final list of colleges: Philadelphia University, La Salle
Reasons for choosing Philadelphia University: “I really like how it’s close to home, and the class sizes are small and the soccer also.”
What was the progression that led you the playing collegiate soccer? “I always knew I wanted to play in college. It was always a goal, and definitely my sophomore year I started thinking I could do it.”
Coach Rachel Clemens says: “Amy Heller is just an unreal defender. Amy leads by example. I just know she’s always going to give 100 percent, and she will do whatever she can to stop the offensive attack or an offensive player. She’s quick, she’s strong, and she has developed into one of the top defenders in our league. Through her hard work, she’s developed to the point where she’s now able to move on to a collegiate career, and I think she’s going to have a great one.”
About Amy:
Favorite food: Pasta
Favorite movie: Frozen
Favorite music: Pop
McKenna Mullin – St. Joseph’s University (Soccer)
Major: Special Ed
Final list of colleges: St. Joe’s, West Chester, University of Bridgeport
Reasons for choosing St. Joe’s: “It’s close enough to home, so my parents can come watch me play. It’s D-1, so it’s the competition that I need to be my best. The class sizes are small enough, so I can excel in the classroom as well as on the field.”
What was the progression that led you to playing collegiate soccer? “I started thinking about playing soccer in college my junior year. Basketball has always been a big part of my life, but there comes a point where you just figure out – okay, I’m good at soccer, I like playing soccer, and it’s what I want to do.”
Coach Rachel Clemens says: “I always saw the potential in McKenna, and I say this often – we didn’t battle, but she was always a basketball player first and a soccer player second, and I always tried to let her know and give her confidence in her potential and ability as a goalkeeper. She was someone I had on the team as a freshman as well, and once she embraced soccer into her life, she just took off, and she was our rock in the back and just did a phenomenal job with keeping the defense in line. She’s a tremendous athlete, and I feel she will continue to get better and better as she plays.”
About McKenna:
Favorite food: Cheese Steaks
Favorite movie: Hangover or Stepbrothers
Favorite music: Taylor Swift
Megan Schafer – Penn State University (Soccer)
Major: Undecided
Final list of colleges: Penn State, Virginia Tech, Villanova
Reasons for choosing Penn State: “Penn State – they have been the Big 10 champs for a lot of years running, Virginia Tech is in one of the best women’s soccer conferences in the ACC, and Villanova was the best academic school. I figured if soccer didn’t work out, I would rather be at Penn State.
“I committed to Penn State on Memorial Day of 10th grade. It was super stressful. I remember people said, ‘Oh, you’re so lucky – you know where you’re going.’ The process of actually deciding was crazy. I was 15 years old, and all these coaches - they weren’t pressuring me but just doing their jobs basically because they’re trying to recruit you. I went on a bunch of trips, and it was overwhelming, but in a way – this is kind of awesome. My parents were supportive the whole way. They said – ‘Take your time, don’t let them rush you.’ Every time we went on a campus, they could tell if I liked it or not.”
What was the progression that led you to playing collegiate soccer? “It started when I was younger when I started playing on the club soccer travel team. As I started getting older - all the tournaments I was going to, I just thought to myself, ‘Wow, I can’t believe how much money all this stuff is,’ and the thing I would want to do most was repay my parents for all the tournaments and everything. Ever since I was little, my dream was to play college soccer.
“There’s not a better feeling knowing I’m fulfilling that. I’m just so excited. It’s really been hard with school and everything, but I always made sure I balanced things because it’s not all about soccer. That’s not going to take you through the rest of your life. You have to have school to get through the rest of your life.”
Coach Rachel Clemens says: “The day that Megan Schafer stepped onto a Neshaminy soccer field was during a summer workout. At that point, we were still playing with the boys, and it was pretty much whoever showed up. She went out there, and I saw her beat five or six boys down the field, take a strike at net and score within the first minute on the field, and I said, ‘That girl’s special,’ and she certainly is. She’s one of the most dynamic soccer players that I have ever watched and coached. Her refuse-to-lose attitude was something that was contagious on the team. Obviously, a lot of us look up to her. She’s a natural leader. She took care of business on the field for us, putting goals in the back of the net and also sharing the ball with all the assists she got. I just can’t wait to see what she’s going to do in her collegiate career because she’s definitely by far one of the best soccer players and young ladies I’ve ever been around.”
About Megan:
Favorite food: Anything buffalo chicken
Favorite movie: Remember the Titans and She’s the Man
Favorite music: Taylor Swift
Katie Suchodolski – Marshall University (Soccer)
Major: Journalistic Broadcast
Final list of colleges: Marshall, St. John’s, Florida International, St. Francis
Reasons for choosing Marshall: “Their soccer program is up and rising. I knew the coach for a while. I went to Costa Rica with them my freshman year for Region One soccer (Marshall coach Kevin Long is the Olympic Development Program (ODP) Region 1 Senior Staff member), so I had a really good connection with them already.”
What was the progression that led you to playing collegiate soccer? “My club soccer team was in the Elite Clubs National League, and we go to a lot of showcases with the team, so playing in college has always been a part of it. I’ve always had an eye out for it. Getting letters my sophomore year definitely helped – oh wow, now I really have to look at it.”
Coach Rachel Clemens says: “What stands out about Katie from even her freshman year was her work ethic. She just honestly worked so hard. She always is one of the most fit on the team and has this positive, radiant energy that carries on to the rest of the team. Even as a freshman, she came in and got time, and she has made an impact since her freshman season. She’s obviously gotten better over the years and has just developed into the player that she is today.”
About Katie:
Favorite food: Chinese
Favorite movie: The Avengers
Favorite music: Macklemore
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