Leesburg, Va. — Loudoun County High School senior Taylor Kibble has signed her National Letter of Intent to continue her soccer career at East Carolina University beginning in the 2019-2020 academic year.
“Being committed to college and knowing where I will be attending is very relieving especially with how stressful the recruiting process was,” the 5-foot-7 Kibble said. “Committing to play college soccer has been my dream since I was little girl so finally fulfilling that was such an amazing feeling.”
[adrotate banner=”29″]Kibble has been dreaming of playing college soccer ever since she started playing ten years ago.
“My dad was really the one who introduced soccer to me since he played when he was younger, and I absolutely fell in love with the game,” Kibble said. “I think now that I’m committed and with my senior season coming up, what keeps me motivated is just bettering myself and being ready for the next higher level of soccer I’ll be playing.”
At the next level, Kibble will join the Division I Pirates which finished 10-6-3 in 2018, including a 5-4-0 mark in the American Athletic Conference. ECU head coach Jason Hamilton has also signed Kibble’s Loudoun ECNL 01 teammate and Briar Woods High School senior Katie Bjornsen.
“The main reason I chose ECU was because of the amazing coaching staff and team camaraderie that I was introduced to,” said Kibble, who will play forward for the Pirates. “The coaches saw the best in me and gave me the opportunity to play at a college level. I fell in love with the campus and the town around it, and I can’t wait to attend there next fall.”
Before she joins the Pirates in 2019, Kibble has one final season left at Loudoun County, where she has led the Lady Raiders to VHSL 4A State championships in 2016 and 2018.
“Playing for Loudoun County has been an experience like no other,” said Kibble, who was named the 2018 All-LoCo Player of the Year. “I’ve never been on a more motivated, dedicated and talented team.”
Kibble credits a lot of the team’s dedication to Loudoun County’s soccer coaches. Prior to the spring 2018 season, Loudoun County graduate Olivia Mackey took over the Lady Raiders’ program after longtime head coach Kirk Smith relocated to Florida after the 2017 season.
“Being able to play for both Coach Kirk Smith and Coach Olivia Mackey has been my honor entirely. They have both made me the player I am today and have been largely responsible for the success that the program has had, especially over the years that I have played there,” Kibble said. “The traditions and memories that I’ve made with this team are some that I’ll never forget, and I can’t wait for this last season with them.”