Photos: Kathy Leister, Zamani Feelings & Geanine Jamison
By: Adam Fine
PHILADELPHIA - One percent of high school athletes go on to play division one sports. Springside Chestnut Hill girls’ soccer is a major outlier among this percentage.
The Blue Devils have four seniors that are going to be in division one uniforms next year. Isabella Brown, who is committed to play for Binghamton women’s soccer team next season, joins Lisa McIntyre, (Maryland) Mary Trudeau, (Morehead State) and Julia Thompson (University of Illinois Chicago).
The Blue Devils have the talent to take home the Inter-Ac title again this year, but it’s the team chemistry that elevates them to another level according to Brown.
Springside Chestnut Hill Academy vs. Germantown Academy - PSD Gallery by Geanine Jamison
“We've all gained a lot of trust in each other and we're all really close friends. So, on the field everything flows,” said Brown.
Trust factors into the moments of adversity. The Blue Devils went to double overtime against Episcopal Academy last Thursday. They were running on fumes in the final minutes, but the trust prevailed in the end.
“In [Thursday’s] game against Episcopal, we showed a lot of grit and we all worked really really hard,” said Brown.
Episcopal goalkeeper and Ohio State commit Maya Naimoli made it tough on the Blue Devils all night. She recorded a season high 10 saves last Thursday. In the end, it was McIntyre that put one past Naimoli for the game winner.
Even with trust and team chemistry, having so many talented players can sometimes lead to a selfish culture. However, Brown looks at this in a completely different way. And she isn’t afraid to make the extra pass even when it might not go down in the stat sheet.
“It makes me more comfortable on the field knowing that if I pass the ball, that person is gonna do something great with it,” said Brown. “We all have the same high level skill, and our IQ is so high and everyone's so good on the ball on the team.”
Brown has had some of her support come from a unique place throughout her soccer career. Her grandparents are originally from Beirut Lebanon, and have been cheering Brown on the whole way, as she is the first athlete in her family.
“My grandfather is really into sports,” said Brown. “He grew up watching sports in Lebanon and that was one of the only things he said that was joyful and exciting for him as a kid.”
Brown’s grandparents now reside in New Jersey and have attended a lot of her club games and a preseason game for Springside Chestnut Hill.
SCHA senior Isabella Brown will play for Binghamton University next season - Photo by Zamani Feelings
Senior defender Madison Major is another player who’s time at Springside Chestnut Hill has been impacted by family. This season, she is joined by her younger sister Jillian, a freshman midfielder. They have practiced together their whole lives, but never been in the same uniform until this season.
“It’s amazing to get to play with my sister for my first and only time ever,” said Major. “Usually my parents have to split their time between my [club] games and [Jillian’s club] games… Now my parents get to watch us both together on one field.”
SCHA senior #17 Madison Major - PSD Photo by Kathy Leister
SCHA freshman #4 Jillian Major - PSD Photo by Kathy Leister
For Brown, high school soccer has been quite the ride. But the recruiting process to Binghamton was not an easy road. COVID-19 created obstacles for Brown and many other high school athletes over the past two years.
“In the beginning of my sophomore and junior year, the [college] coaches weren’t really at the tournaments as much,” said Brown. “I had to reach out and keep being persistent with my emails and making my own highlight tapes.”
The recruiting process involves contacting numerous coaches and having multiple options, but Binghamton was always Brown’s number one choice.
“I had a few coaches that reached out and showed interest and I was looking at a few different schools, but [Binghamton made] an imprint from the start,” said Brown. “I loved the school and the team and everything in the environment that it brought. So, from the beginning, that was my favorite place.”
SCHA senior Isabella Brown - Photos by Zamani Feelings
Earlier this week, Brown earned the 2022 First Lieutenant Travis Manion & Corporal Michael Crescenz Award. This award is given to two high school soccer players every year who embody the spirit of Manion and Crescenz, who both gave up their lives to serve their country.
Next up, Brown and the Blue Devils take on Baldwin. Brown will look to continue her hot start, and add to her already six goals this season.
(To submit team news, updates and stat reports, please contact Adam Fine: af718250@sju.edu)