Shannon Rhodes has never been picky when it comes to her soccer position and it paid off in a big way.
At a clinic at Villanova in April, the Packer Collegiate senior noticed significantly more players trying to play and be seen at the center midfield spot, her natural position. Choosing to move to defense offered a chance for more field time and a better opportunity for the coaches to watch her.
“I feel like if you play soccer you are a soccer player, you are not a position player,” Rhodes said.
That mentality, along with her smarts and skill, made the Villanova coaches take notice and they asked her if she was interested in playing women’s soccer at the Big East school. Rhodes and her family met with head coach John Byford in June and attended other camps over summer, where she played midfield, before verbally committing in August. Rhodes chose the Wildcats over UPenn, Carleton College, George Washington and Haverford.
“Division I soccer is really competitive and that’s something I really wanted in a school,” Rhodes said. “The soccer is really important to me because I want to be a college coach.”
Her journey to this point certainly wasn’t typical. Rhodes started playing travel soccer at age 10 and after two seasons gave it up to devote her time to play other sports along with it. She letters in soccer, basketball, softball and track and field at the small Brooklyn private school. After her freshman year there she returned to play for the Manhattan Kickers and saw her game improve exponentially last season. Rhodes now plays for Match Fit Chelsea to get ready for Big East competition.
“I just saw a big jump from freshman and sophomore year to junior year,” longtime Packer coach Rich Domanico said.
Rhodes had 16 goals and 19 assists and made it look easy, taking all of Packers penalty kicks last season. She helped lead her team to the AAIS final, where it lost to Brearley. Rhodes was known to play multiple positions in high school as well. She started as a sweeper, moved to center midfield and also played goal at times. Rhodes said it will be weird focusing on just one sport, but hasn’t ruled out try to join club teams.
“She has put in countless hours,” Domanico said. “You don’t often see a [multi] sport athlete make it to be a Division I athlete in one particular sport.”
Byford’s inviting personality, the team’s camaraderie and school’s intense athletic environment all made Villanova feel like the right fit. Also, Rhodes wants to study computer engineering and the school’s program is highly regarded. The Wildcats went 7-12 overall and 2-9 in conference last year and are 4-0-3 this season.
Villanova is getting exactly the player it saw back in April, one willing to sacrifice for what’s best for herself and the team. It’s left Rhodes unsure what position she will be asked to play in college, but that doesn’t matter to her.
“It’s the same attitude I am going to have going to Villanova,” Rhodes said. “If Coach Byford wants me to play defense, I’ll play defense. It’s more important to me that I’m playing in the game than what position I’m playing.”
