Sports

Stevenson Senior Commits to Playing College Soccer in California

Katy Karabetsos of Buffalo Grove plans to play soccer next year for San Jose State University.

Eclipse Select Soccer Club midfielder Katy Karabetsos admits she had some good fortune on her side when committing to a collegiate program, and sure enough that pathway started in Las Vegas.

Karabetsos’ performance at the Las Vegas Players Showcase in March paid big dividends as the Buffalo Grove native and member of Eclipse Select’s U-17 Elite Clubs National League team caught the eyes of San Jose State’s women’s soccer program.

After they contacted Eclipse Select President Rory Dames to get the ball rolling, the Spartans are now looking forward to having Karabetsos on the pitch starting in the fall of 2014.

“It was just luck, I guess,” Karabetsos said. “We were at the showcase in Vegas and their coach happened to be walking by and saw me stand out during a game. He contacted Rory and showed interest.”

Karabetsos had wanted to travel a bit for her college experience, and after visiting San Jose State she knew the members of the Mountain West Conference meshed with everything she wanted.

“They wanted someone who can defend and hold, and I thought it was a perfect fit,” Karabetsos said. “The coaches were looking for a player that is looking to get the ball from my position and play it forward and get the attack going. I’m really excited, and the girls are great. The coaches are great. I connected with them really well.

“I did an overnight visit and it was crazy because 30 minutes into the visit my parents looked at each other and looked at me and just knew,” she said. “I had another visit to a different school, and it just confirmed that San Jose State was the right choice.”

At that point of the 2012-13 season, the U-17 ECNL side was in good form, posting three wins in four games during that event.

“Our confidence was high and we were peaking as a team,” Karabetsos said. “It was great that they got to see one of those games because we were on a good winning streak. We beat the defending national champs and we were confident.”

When Karabetsos joined Eclipse Select, she says she looked up to the play of midfielder/defender Sammy Scofield, who is entering her junior season this fall with Notre Dame. Like Scofield, Karabetsos has maintained a versatile approach to her game. And after spending her earlier years at various positions, Karabetsos has most recently embraced her integral role as a holding midfielder.

“They built me as a player, that’s for sure,” Karabetsos said. “They taught me how to play my position and trained me as a holding midfielder. I think I grew into a leader because of them. Now I give people energy on the field and I’m much more confident, something that maybe I lacked a little bit at the beginning.

“You don’t get the recognition as a holding midfielder, but as long as I’m doing everything to help the team and winning the ball, you don’t need the recognition,” Karabetsos said.

Karabetsos still has another year before making the move from Stevenson High School to San Jose State University, and up to this point she has relished every moment playing with Eclipse Select to help progress her career.

“I had been playing on and off for the club during my U-13 year and officially came over to the club during my U-14 year,” Karabetsos said. “Playing for Eclipse has been life-changing. They’re my family. These girls are my best friends, and I’ve never been on other teams that are that close. It’s hard to describe. The coaches are great. They’re welcoming. They care for each player as though they are they’re own child.

“I think we intertwine with each other,” Karabetsos said. “We’re on the same page, play for each other and we continue learning more and more about the game. We want to win every game. It’s been such a great experience.”

— Submitted by Eclipse Select Soccer Club


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