From Australia to Aberdeen
Five PC students make the journey for College and to play soccer
By: Kelli Krause
With the help of Presentation College, scholarships and an international scouting organization, five Australian student-athletes recently turned their dream of studying and playing collegiate soccer in the United States into a reality. The Australian-natives, all in their freshman year, are already acclimating well to the lifestyle of a Saints student-athlete.
Head soccer coach Jacob Plocher began recruiting with the help of the National Scouting Report Australia in 2012, when he first started coaching at PC. Plocher searches for Australian student-athletes to recruit to his soccer teams that are both academically and athletically talented and have a stand-out personality. He reviewed the player profiles, highlight film, personal references and test scores of the five would-be Saints and knew he had found students that would be a great addition to PC. That is when Meagan Hale, Nykeela Purs, Jack Herman, Joshua Docksey, and Mackenzie Burgoyne were offered an academic and athletic scholarship to PC and a position on the Saints soccer teams, which they accepted.
“They just fit in great with our soccer program and everyone enjoys having them around, I know I do,” said Coach Plocher. “We’ve learned a lot about their culture and their teammates have shared a lot with them as well. They bring a whole new element to our programs and our school.”
The Australian students said that a lot of factors weighed on their decision to become PC Saints. Two reasons of which were the easy-going coaching staff, and most importantly, that PC offered their degree program of interest.
“It really is the opportunity of a lifetime. The lessons I’ve learned so far and people I’ve met at Presentation College will stay with me always,” said Hale. “The college has provided me with an experience that is only unique to those who come to PC.”
The Aussie-natives say that the biggest difference between PC and home is the weather. They recently had their first-ever experience with snow and have already participated in a few snowball fights on campus. Their favorite things about PC include the competitive soccer program, the friendly and caring people, the helpful advisors, small class sizes and being able to participate in the fan section at Saints games.
The Presentation College Saints soccer teams both had very exciting seasons and the women’s squad collectively earned the most wins for the program since it began in 2001. The five PC additions will be returning for their sophomore year next fall with high hopes for their Saints soccer careers, and hopefully with a few more pairs of warm mittens for their snowball fights.