By Maddie Oliver
LoCoSports Contributor
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Ashburn (February 26, 2015) — Stone Bridge High School junior Lindsay Gallagher has announced her early decision to commit to the University of Florida for the 2016-2017 academic year.
Gallagher will be traveling about 800 miles from home to attend and play for the No. 7 ranked Division I Gators women’s soccer team.
“When I visited Florida for the first time, I immediately loved the campus, the positivity from coaching staff and the competitive vibe from the team. I felt like I could really see myself there, and the warm weather was a bonus,” the 5-foot-6 Gallagher said.
The Florida Gators women soccer team had a very successful 2014 season. They finished with a 17-4-2 record including a 9-2 record in the Southeastern Conference.
“The Florida Gators are a very tactical team, which is exactly my style play,” said the midfielder. “I’m excited to have the opportunity to contribute to such a successful team.”
Making a decision this early in her high school career — and knowing she cannot put her decision on paper for another year — is going to have a large impact on her life.
“It is such a relief!” Gallagher said. “I now have to work even harder to become better and stronger, but it is the best feeling knowing that all my hard work has paid off.”
Girls Soccer: @SBHSBulldogs' Lindsay Gallagher (@LindssayyG) has made a verbal commitment to play at D1 Florida #LoCoCollegeCommit
— LoCoSports (@LoCoSports) January 7, 2015
Gallagher started soccer back in second grade when she moved to Virginia from Michigan.
“I joined my first travel team coached by Royce Brodie. He helped me develop as a player early on and create my love for the game,” she added.
Royce Brodie was a high-level athlete throughout the country, especially in New Mexico. He is now a well-respected coach in the Northern Virginia area.
Like many other young athletes, Gallagher tried out other sports until she decided to stick with soccer.
“I swam for a few years but dedicated most of my time to soccer from the beginning,” Gallagher noted.
Every athlete has ups and downs throughout their career, and for Gallagher her down came in the form of an injury.
“The hardest part of my soccer career has been tearing my ACL at the end of freshmen year. Hearing the news from my doctor that I’d be out for the next six to eight months is an athlete’s biggest nightmare, but it made me mentally tougher,” Gallagher said. “Overcoming such a brutal injury and then committing only ten months later has been my biggest accomplishment and the biggest reward!”
Many people have helped her through the years of numerous tournaments, practices and injuries. However, Gallagher noted her parents are the ones who aided her the most.
“Whether it was driving me to countless practices or dealing with all the drama in the soccer world, they’ve always been my biggest supporters.”
