Alyssa Otto: Playing the Waiting Game
When Alyssa Otto stepped off the pitch in St. Clairsville for the final time, she did so as one of the most decorated soccer players in school, and Ohio Valley, history. Otto was a four-time all-district player, a two-time second team all-state honoree and a four-time member of the All-Valley team, including twice being named its captain. In four seasons, she amassed 145 goals, good for fourth in Ohio history and second in school history. Her 42 goals as a senior led the Buckeye state, her second season in a row doing so. But that begged the question. Could Otto give an encore performance her first year of collegiate soccer? Many players, both from and outside the valley, have promising careers only to fade into obscurity in college. They are still great athletes. But everyone on a college field is a great athlete, and not everyone has the drive to make the separation. Otto is not one of those people. As a freshman at Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference member Mercyhurst, Otto exceled. She led the Lakers with 14 goals and 42 points total and was named All-PSAC first team and D2CCA all-Atlantic region second team for her efforts. Otto finished fourth in goals, sixth in shots, and fifth in total points in the conference. She’s once again ready to continue that extended encore performance. However, like all other fall athletes in the PSAC, the waiting game has begun. That wait, as of now, will extend into calendar year 2021. Read the full article