Lady Monarch keeper Brielle Young kicks the ball away from the net in this 2021 file photo. Young, an MHS senior, has signed to continue her career at the University of Toledo. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
Brielle Young recently completed her Division I high school soccer career.
The Marysville High School senior will now turn her attention to a D-I collegiate experience.
Earlier this week, Young signed on the dotted line to continue her athletic and academic careers at the University of Toledo.
She will major in nursing with a minor in business administration.
Young said she chose Toledo after contemplating a number of schools.
“I had also looked at the University of Dayton, Wingate (in North Carolina), Ohio Wesleyan, Western Michigan, Heidelberg and Purdue,” she said.
The reason she chose the Lady Rockets?
“I went for a visit there and talked to members of the team,” she said. “I also watched a game and realized I wanted to be a part of that atmosphere that just felt like home to me.”
Young recently earned her fourth varsity letter for the Lady Monarchs.
Her favorite memory is from her sophomore campaign.
That’s when the Lady Monarchs captured the second Division I district championship in the program’s history.
She also posted the most shutouts (11) in a single season as a Lady Monarch keeper.
Young began playing soccer at the age of three in a local youth league.
She didn’t, however, begin as a keeper.
“I started out as a forward… completely on the opposite side of the field,” she said.
When and how did she take on arguably the toughest spot on a soccer pitch?
“It’s a funny story,” said Young. “I was playing at the age of 10 and my team was competing in a tournament.
“Our keeper at the time just decided to leave the team between tournament games,” she said. “I decided to step up and fell in love with being a keeper.
“I’ve played there ever since.”
A soccer keeper, just like a goalie in hockey, can face a game bombarded by shot after shot.
Some athletes would shy away from that type of stress.
Young isn’t one of them.
“I like the fact that as a keeper, I can make or break a game,” she said. “I enjoy the pressure of the position and love the feeling when I make a big save.”
Saves have been plentiful during her high school career.
She tallied 396 stops during matches in which she played for the Lady Monarchs.
Of that number, 355 came during varsity competition.
“I played some junior varsity matches as well when I was a freshman,” she said.
The women’s program at Toledo has been pretty successful over the years.
The Lady Rockets have won six Mid American Conference championships, the most recent coming in 2017.
Young will be one of four keepers on the roster when Toledo begins its 2022 fall season.
“They had a freshman and sophomore as keepers this past season and they’ll have another incoming freshman keeper besides me,” she said. “The competition to earn the starting position is going to be wide open and I’m willing to fight for that spot.”
Courtney Weikart recently completed her first season at the helm of the Lady Monarch squad.
“Brielle is, by far, the most competitive athlete I’ve ever coached,” she said. “She has a very high soccer IQ, loves the game and has a great work ethic.
“This (her college signing) means a lot to her.
“I’m just happy I got to be a little sliver of Brielle’s high school soccer story,” said Weikart.
Young signs her letter of intent to play soccer at the University of Toledo earlier this week. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)