Eastern's Ali celebrates national girls' soccer player of the year award
When she first stepped on Eastern's soccer field as a freshman, Amirah Ali almost immediately displayed the capability of being a future South Jersey player of the year.
When she first stepped on Eastern's soccer field as a freshman, Amirah Ali almost immediately displayed the capability of being a future South Jersey player of the year.
Over time, she showed that she would be among the elite players in the state.
But best in the country?
Even Ali, now a senior, thought that would be a little ambitious.
Except that it wasn't
Earlier this month in Los Angeles, Ali was honored as the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) national girls' soccer player of the year.
"I was actually surprised, especially with all the great [state] high school players of the year," Ali said.
Maybe it was Ali being humble, but anybody who has seen her during her Eastern career shouldn't be stunned. Ali was actually named the winner in December but was presented the award during the NSCAA's annual banquet on Jan. 14 in Los Angeles.
"It was an unbelievable experience," Ali said.
The experiences will continue.
She will be a member of the Rutgers program next year. On Saturday, Ali will begin an eight-day training camp with the under-19 national team in Sunrise, Fla.
This season, she had to miss some high school time while competing for the under-18 team but still ended up with 27 goals and seven assists in 16 games and was named the Inquirer's South Jersey player of the year.
For her career, she finished with 99 goals and 53 assists.
Just think, her career began, at the ripe old age of four on other side of the ball.
"I started as a defender, and I feel being back there, I saw the whole field," she said.
Then one time, her team needed somebody up top, and Ali obliged.
"The coach put me up there, and I never looked back," she recalled laughing.
Despite missing several high school games, maximum effort was provided in the ones in which she participated. There was no big-timing the high school game.
"She was a dream to coach," Eastern coach Jamie McGroarty said.
And a nightmare to defend.
"She would be triple-teamed for us, and in college and the pros you can't do that," McGroarty said. "I am interested to see what she does when she has more time and space."
Ali is looking forward to college, where she plans to major in nursing. She is also excited to be part of the national team program, for which she competed this fall in a tournament in Ireland.
Ali said it wasn't hard to flip the switch going from playing for the national team to high school other than suffering from a little jet lag.
"I enjoy playing any chance I get," she said. "I love it, and I treated my high school games the way I would a national team game."
With all the accolades she has received, the magnitude of this national award wasn't lost on her coach.
"Abby Wambach and Heather O'Reilly won that award, and that really puts things in perspective how big this is," said McGroarty, referring to two players who were long-time stars on the U.S. national team.
And now Ali's name stands along some of the greats in high school soccer history. Still, she refuses to give into complacency.
"It won't be easy in college," she said. "There will be a lot more physical and stronger players in college."
That is certainly the case, but attempting to contain Ali from continually putting the ball in the back of the net promises to be a major headache as well.
@sjnard