Maine South Soccer Player Signs With Wisconsin

For a 17-year-old soccer player, sitting out for a year and a half with an ACL injury feels like forever.

So Sydney McGinnis, a Maine South junior who plays with the Eclipse Select Soccer Club, was pretty happy to play her first competitive games in a long time this weekend. 

She played about 15 minutes in Saturday's game, and about 30 minutes in Sunday's.

"I had some great chances and I felt a lot better in (Sunday's) game," she emailed to Patch. "We won against the Michigan Hawks (1-0)  who are tough competitors for us so that was a plus."

There's more excitement ahead for her. McGinnis has signed to play for the University of Wisconsin when she enters in Fall 2014. Much of her decision had to do with the fact Coach Paula Wilkins recognized McGinnis' talent when she was 11 years old, and became her Olympic Development Program coach. Wilkins will also coach McGinnis when she starts with the Badgers.

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Wilkins' confidence in the Park Ridge teenager also gave McGinnis peace of mind as she recovered from her ACL injury.

“When you’re 11 and still developing, you never think that this would do anything for you or you’d get the recognition,” McGinnis said in a statement. “You don’t think that your ODP coach would be your future college coach. That has definitely helped that she remembered me and has helped in my recovery process, the fact that she wants me to get better and has strong hopes for me.”

McGinnis started playing soccer as a child with the Park Ridge Park District, then made the traveling team, moved to a Lake Forest club team, then changed to FC United, and eventually started with Eclipse when she was about 14, with coach Rory Dames. Each progression brought her to a more competitive level.

For now, McGinnis is just celebrating her return to the field as her health is restored. Saturday and Sunday's ECNL (Elite Club National League) games took place in Oakbrook.

On Monday, her knee was sore, but she said that was normal after playing after an absence.

"I'm so excited to keep working and getting better!," she said. "This journey hasn't been an easy one, but it has taught me so much about myself as both a player and a person."

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