Alide, Va. – John Champe High School senior Lindie Gibbs has made a commitment to continue her soccer career at Lafayette College beginning in the 2018-2019 academic year.
“I chose Lafayette due to the overall feeling I got when I stepped on campus. It just felt right, as if this was where I was meant to be,” the 5-foot-4 Gibbs said. “Lafayette will give me the opportunity to play soccer at the Division I level while still receiving an extremely high level of education.”
[adrotate banner=”19″]The Division I Leopards are led by Mick Statham, who is in his 12th season as head coach of the Lafayette women’s soccer program. Last fall, the Leopards earned their first-ever Patriot League Tournament victory in a double-overtime defeat of Lehigh. Their latest victory this season moves the Maroon and White to 3-5-1 in Patriot League play.
Being committed to college feels surreal for Gibbs, but she says it is a heartwarming feeling and looks forward to contributing to the team next season as a freshman.
“In my opinion, I think I will add character, drive and perseverance to the team,” said Gibbs, who will play outside and center for Lafayette. “I think I will be able to contribute defensively and offensively on the field due to my tendency to make runs up the field.”
Gibbs is looking forward to her final high school season with the Lady Knights and is proud of their overall 11-3 record and 5-2-1 record in conference play last season.
“In general, I am extremely happy with my high school team’s outcome the past couple of years,” the defender said. “Being a new school, I think we have come extremely far at a fast pace and have accomplished so much these past three years”.
Gibbs and the Knights will have their work cut out for them this season when they reclassify to the VHSL 5A, having to compete against some of the top teams in the state.
“Moving up to 5A will be a new challenge for the team, but I really hope to see the team utilize the same mentality we have always had these past couple of years,” Gibbs said. “If we go into the season with the same mindset we have always had, then I think we can rise up to the challenge.”
The future Leopard fell in love with soccer when she began playing when she was 4-years-old and began playing competitive soccer when she was nine. She plays soccer simply because she loves the competitiveness of the game along with the teamwork and camaraderie the sport has awarded her the past twelve years.
The defender gives credit to coaches Nadir Moumen and Clyde Watson. She also says her role model has been her grandmother.
“They have always challenged me to be a better player and have always done everything possible to help me get to where I want to be,” Gibbs said. “My grammy always made the best out of every situation and she taught me how to approach everything with a positive outlook.”
Playing with the Knights, Gibbs experienced some of her greatest accomplishments to date. Gibbs was named all-conference first team the past three seasons, all-region second team in 2015 and 2017 and an All-LoCo honorable mention in 2017.
“What has kept me motivated throughout this whole process is going into everything that I do with the mentality that I can be better than the player I was last season, last month, last game, and even last practice,” Gibbs said. “Knowing that I can always be better has pushed me to keep improving my game.”
