KSC junior and goalkeeper Danielle Warhall saved the Owls from a loss on wednesday afternoon at owl stadium, defeating Johnson & Wales 3-0 with an impressive six saves to improve the team’s record to 4-2 on the season.
Warhall proved after a successful high school career she was ready to be a college athlete. Warhall competed in the New Hampshire vs. Vermont Lions first team all state cup and was a first team All-State athlete her junior and senior year of high school in Strafford, New Hampshire.
Warhall said the transition from high school to college was not an easy task, especially working to earn her starring role as the goalkeeper.
“It was really competitive with all the goalkeepers here trying to compete for a spot in the starting lineup,” Warhall said.
“My freshman year I was able to step up and fill in the starting role as the goalkeeper when my former teammate Cori went down with an injury, it was unfortunate but we all had a job to do and we all needed to stick together as a team,”Warhall said.
The Owls have been very successful at doing just that. Over the past two years, the Owls have been a strong core, working together to win back to back Little East Conference Titles.
“We want to win another championship, it is that simple. As a team we
Photo Editor / Tim Smith
were able to work some kinks out and only being a junior, I may not be a full on captain but I am able to lead and take charge for the younger athletes on the team,” Warhall said.
First-year teammate, Katelyn Bottis said she highly looks up to Warhall and takes any advice that is kicked her way both on and off the field.
“She is a great leader figure, she always gives us good, positive constructive criticism to help us work harder and get better.” Bottis went on to comment and say, “Danielle brings a positive atmosphere to the team, we are able to turn it off and on and know when to get down to business.”
According to the Keene Owls athletic webpage, Women’s Soccer Head Coach Denise Lyons is entering her twenty-second year of coaching and stated she hopes to bring back yet a third championship in the span of three years.
Another first-year athlete who scored a pair of goals against Johnson & Wales, Patricia Norton, explained, “Danielle will always push us to get better, it’s a lot of hard work, we practice almost every day and lift twice a week, Norton said. “It’s totally worth it when you have a teammate like Danielle who’s always by your side pushing you to get better.”
The Owl’s next matchup will be on September 30 at 7 p.m. at the Owl Stadium as they will go up against Middlebury College.
The momentum is certainly in the hands of the Owls, as Warhall said, she hopes to lead her team to another shutout victory, another successful year and another Little East Conference Championship.
Adam can be contacted at abuskey@kscequinox.com