Jr. Sam Cary heads clear a ball into the Howell North box in a win at Howell Central on April 19, 2018
This week’s Llywelyn’s Player of the Week is Sam Cary, Howell North is a young woman I first noticed as a U14 club player, a member of the SLSG Missouri 2001 ECNL team. There’s a picture in the small gallery below that will help you see the strides she’s made in building her game and her body for the coming rigors of Big 10 soccer for the Iowa Hawkeye’s. Beside’s her game she also exhibited an early ability to communicate with adults that made it easier for me to get to know her and her game.
My choice for Player of the Week because she can offer your child and wonderful example as an outside back, having developed the skill set that is in demand now and down the road. Her ability to get up and down the wing with her technical ability, pace and knowledge of the positions requirements. Need to defend speedy forwards? Check. Need to get into the attack? Check. Create offensive opportunities? Amen as Sam consistently delivers crosses into the box, while on the run, allowing her to shed defenders and give her team dangerous plays inside the 18. Her strength in this regard, especially with her left foot that makes her even more valuable, has led to her becoming the primary set piece provider on corners and free kicks. She can put a ball into the six yard box from 40 yards.
Get out and see her this Spring and take your kid along to see just how the position should be played.
Cary joined the St. Louis Scott Gallagher ECNL Program under the direction of Ralph Richards when she was 13 years old. Her ECNL team has qualified for ECNL Nationals 5 times and will be the top seed going into Nationals in June when her High School career ends and Club begins anew. With an undefeated conference record for the last two years, her ECNL club team has earned two consecutive ECNL Midwest Conference Championships. Through the ECNL, Cary has also been invited to two Midwest Player Identification Development Programs.
During Cary’s freshman season at Francis Howell North, FHN won their Class 4 District Championship with Cary being the leading goal scorer for her team as a left forward. She earned GAC First-Team All Conference, Class 4 First-Team All Region, and Class 4 Honorable Mention All State Honors. Cary once again earned First Team All-Conference, Class 4 All-Region and Class 4 Second Team All-State Honors as a leading scoring forward during her sophomore year. This year as a junior at FHN, Cary has moved into a defensive role as the team’s left full back. She helps organize the backline and the team’s set plays. As one of the team’s captains, Cary intends to impact her high school program by passing down her work ethic and commitment to the game to her teammates in the program. “When I started playing soccer I was never considered to be the most skilled or most technical player”, said Cary, “But by practicing intensely at every team practice and on my own I steadily improved. I hope to show others that hard work really does pay off.”
Cary is verbally committed to play soccer at the University of Iowa and will be signing her letter of intent this fall as she plans to graduate high school a semester early to start her training for the Hawkeyes in the spring of 2019. She currently intends to major in health and human physiology with the intention of ultimately becoming a soccer coach. “I’m excited for the opportunity to begin college a semester early for it will help me grow as a player and person and give me experience at the college level before my first Big Ten season.” Being on an extremely skilled and talented ECNL team gave Cary the opportunity to be seen by many colleges at ECNL national events. It has always been a goal of hers to play Big Ten soccer and she chose Iowa over numerous other offers because Iowa has the right academic and soccer fit for her. “Iowa felt like home”, said Cary. “It’s the place I can grow academically while making a contribution to their rising soccer program”.
Cary’s intensity and competitiveness on the field have been deeply rooted in her by her family. Although they were not athletes, her parents instilled a competitive drive and a high work ethic in her. They encouraged her to go out to the fields for additional practice and have been more than willing to help her train. This attitude has also led her to add extra training into her schedule such as strength, conditioning and weight training sessions before school on top of her after school practices.
Cary is not only a player but also spends many hours as a soccer referee. As a referee, she earned recognition as the 2016 Missouri Youth Referee of the Year and in 2018 Cary earned her Referee Certification for the Development Academy. Most weekends Cary refs DA and ECNL games in the St. Louis Area. She also has been a referee for Missouri State Cup the last two years and was invited to ref at USYSA Regionals last year in South Dakota. “Being an active referee helps me as a player because it keeps me constantly around the game of soccer and it helps me see certain decisions on the field to improve my tactical ability as a player.”
In addition to soccer, Cary serves as a sports photography editor in FHN’s nationally-recognized journalism program. She has also been inducted into the National Quill and Scroll Society, the honors organization for high school journalists. Besides photography Cary is a part of FHN’s live stream team and she writes articles for FHN’s yearbook and newspaper. In the last two weeks, Cary has received two individual national awards for her photography. A 12 year girl scout, Cary also recently earned the Girl Scout Gold Award and now serves on the Eastern Missouri Girl Scout Regional Board of Directors. Cary tied her passion for soccer into her Gold Award project by teaching local youth soccer players about nutrition and ways to stay healthy while being active. She has been an active participant in Youth Leadership St. Louis and is a member of her school’s International Thespian Society and National Honor Society. Despite her active schedule, she has consistently maintained a 4.7 GPA in high school.
FHN is currently 4-6-1 on the season.
[table] HOWELL NORTH Year, Goals, Assists 2016, 11, 3 2017, 8, 9 2018, 3, 3 [/table]
Sam Cary (Howell North 2019/SLSG ECNL) centers a U14 Boys Group match at the 2016 Summer State Cup
Sam Cary 2017
Sam Cary 2018
Thank you to Llywelyn’s for their sponsorship. It’s an organization I’ve been visiting since my early post-college days and continue to enjoy. Can’t wait for their outdoor patio in O’Fallon when the facility they are building at the Missouri Rush facility opens this Summer!
Llywelyn’s Pub offers a comfortable, private space for your next event. While their menu boasts a wide variety of options – including team packages, traditional fare, delicious entrees and exquisite desserts – their standard of service will put your mind at ease. Visit www.llywelynspub.com to find a location near you.
Llywelyn's Player of the Week: Sam Cary, Howell North @HowellNorthsoc @SLSGmoECNL This week's Llywelyn's Player of the Week is Sam Cary, Howell North is a young woman I first noticed as a U14 club player, a member of the SLSG Missouri 2001 ECNL team.