Soccer IQ Earns College Scholarship

Harpeth Hall goaltender commits to Miami University to continue her soccer career

The keeper’s soccer IQ and senior leadership helped propel Harpeth Hall to a state title

Itwas almost a decade ago when Harpeth Hall soccer coach Meggie Lucas first met Mallory Thomas at a summer sports camp. Mallory was little in age, but serious in stature. With her hair done up in a power braid and a Nike wrap around her head to keep the stray strands out of her eyes, Mallory was there not just to play but to learn and compete. “The way the ball was always on her foot just meant that she was all business,” Coach Lucas recalled. “She was so much beyond the skills of most of the other girls at the camp that I had to design a different set of drills and activities based around her level of athleticism.”

That prowess, coupled with a passion for the game and perseverance to perform at the top level, powered Mallory to success. This fall, just weeks after Harpeth Hall claimed the state soccer title, Mallory signed a National Letter of Intent to continue her playing career at Miami University in Ohio. In their senior year, athletes who have been recruited to compete at the NCAA Division I- or Division II-level formally indicate their commitment to a particular college or university by signing a National Letter of Intent. The agreement marks an exciting and much-anticipated milestone in an athlete’s academic and athletic future.

With her friends, family, coaches, and classmates gathered for the big moment in the Athletic and Wellness Center, Mallory made her commitment official in November. A celebratory video created by Harpeth Hall’s sports broadcasting club played in honor of Mallory, and her parents beamed on either side of her as Mallory put pen to paper. “I don't think it has truly hit me what that means yet though,” Mallory said.

by Jessica Bliss

“Everyone is always saying how crazy it is that I am going to play soccer in college, but I have been playing soccer since I was 3 and to me, I think it would be crazier if I wasn't playing soccer.” Mallory will take with her the memories of this year’s championship season and the relationships formed among her teammates. “This team and the coaching staff this season were unlike anything I had been a part of,” Mallory said. “The team chemistry was amazing from the very beginning. We all worked hard for each other, but we also knew how to have fun.

“The support from the administration and the school as a whole, I believe played a huge role in our success this season. Not only did we have a devoted student section at home games, but we even had big support in Chattanooga in the state championship game. “Additionally, the support and devotion from the coaching staff truly made this team what it was. Coach Lucas brought so much life and heart into this program, and I am so lucky to have been able to have been coached by her.” Coach Lucas also feels lucky to have coached Mallory. “The RedHawks are getting an outstanding soccer player and the most talented keeper I have ever coached,” Coach Lucas said. “She not only makes unbelievable saves with her reaction speed, lateral movement, and firm grip of the ball, but her soccer IQ is beyond her years. She sees the game like a seasoned coach and commands her defense. …

“I have often said that the secret sauce to a successful and championship team is the senior leadership, and the results speak for themselves. Mallory was an instrumental piece of that.”