Reynolds heading to Manhattan
Lily Reynolds is ready for the bright lights and the big city.
The 17-year-old, Grade 12 student at E.L. Crossley has accepted a scholarship offer to play soccer at Manhattan University, a Division 1 school which competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.
“I’ve been to New York a couple times and I just love the city,” Reynolds said. “One of the things that I was looking at was location. I didn’t want to be too close to home, but I definitely wanted to be somewhere where I had a lot of things around me. Obviously with New York City that’s there, for sure.”
Manhattan checked the rest of Reynolds’ boxes as well.
“Honestly, it came down to what kind of programs they had there, what kind of money they were willing to offer, things like that, so it just ended up like falling into place that way.”
Reynolds visited the campus and immediately felt at home.
“The school, the actual campus and the student population is a bit smaller, which I like. So it felt a lot more close-knit. I met a lot of the girls on the team and I really liked them, I really liked the coaches, just had a great feel about the campus and everything. I started talking to them and our interests aligned and I ended up going out there visiting, continued the contact with them and then they offered me a package.”
Reynolds did her due diligence when researching schools.
“I was talking to quite a few schools,” she said. “It’s amazing (to have made the decision). It’s been such a big stress for the last two years so it’s a big relief to get that off.”
Reynolds began playing soccer at age three and moved to the Western New York Flash in recent years to increase her exposure.
She has always been a goalkeeper and is well aware of the stigma surrounding those who play the position.
“Goalkeepers are weird and crazy,” she laughed.
Reynolds said it is imperative a goalkeeper take charge.
“Usually what they look for is like someone who can command the field and is a very good leader and very sociable with other people.”
She said the mental aspect of the position is key, particularly when things don’t go well.
“You sort of just have to tell yourself that it goes through 10 other people on the field that are on your team. It happens. You just have to move on, see what you can improve on, what you did wrong and just really try to like take it from there.”
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