BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
Last year the Saint Joseph?s Hawks women?s soccer team in Philadelphia finished dead last in the Atlantic-10 Conference in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division One soccer play. They had problems generating offence and earning respect, finishing with a 4-12 record.
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Megan Schutt?s combination of soccer skills, deadly shot and competitive nature quickly became the bane of the opposition around the Atlantic-10, one of the toughest women?s soccer divisions in the United States. |
Enter Sudbury native and soccer phenomenon Megan Schutt. She was recruited by Saint Joseph?s with the hopes of helping to turn around a stagnant program.
And help she did! Schutt walked into the season not expecting to make a serious impact, but she has set the NCAA soccer scene on fire.
Her combination of soccer skills, deadly shot and competitive nature quickly became the bane of the opposition around the Atlantic-10, one of the toughest women?s soccer divisions in the United States.
The Hawks, thanks largely to the efforts of the talented Sudbury striker, made the playoffs and improved their record to 9-8-1.
Over the course of the regular season, Schutt led the team with 11 goals and 27 points in 17 games.
She also led the team in game winning goals, with three, shots and shots on goal.
Schutt, 18, cleaned up at the Atlantic 10 awards banquet, capturing all-rookie team and all-conference team
honours.
?She has completely changed our program around,? said women?s head coach Jess Reynolds. ?We went from having zero offence last year, to a potent team this year and we made the playoffs for the first time ever. We owe a lot to Megan.?
Reynolds was impressed with the way Schutt handled the pressure of being a freshman from a different country.
?She came in and played hard like a senior,? said Reynolds. ?She added a dimension to the team we have never had.?
It?s easy for Reynolds to see why Schutt was an unstoppable force this season.
?She?s really strong on the ball and she can hold off any defender,? said Reynolds. ?She has a great left-foot shot that keepers can?t seem to handle and she?s tough. She also has an amazing work ethic.?
Schutt wasn?t expecting to make such a dramatic impact, but is proud of her accomplishments.
?I was surprised,? said Schutt. ?I didn?t know what to expect this year. I am really happy with the results. It?s
encouraging that I am on the right track here.?
Schutt, who?s studying chemical biology, has benefited from her experience.
?It?s definitely been worthwhile,? said Schutt. ?My coaches have really helped me get to the next level.?
Schutt knew what she had to do at Saint Joseph?s.
?I shoot a lot,? said Schutt. ?I just go to the goal. That?s my job.?
All her accolades aside, Schutt will remember the second last home game of the season for a long time.
?I scored the winning goal against Rhode Island,? said Schutt. ?Winning that game meant we made the Atlantic 10
playoff tournament. It was awesome.?
Saint Joseph?s bowed out in the first round of the playoffs, but Schutt is already fired up for next season.
?We got better as the season wore on,? said Schutt. ?I am so anxious for next year to see how far we can go.?
Fans will get a chance to see Schutt display her marvellous array of skills in the summer of 2004. She will be
playing for the expansion Sudbury Canadians in the United Soccer League, women?s division.
