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Fauquier's Atkins to play soccer at Shepherd
The tale of Megan Atkins' soccer recruitment turned her into a real-life Goldilocks.
Division I schools like Stony Brook? Too big.
Division III teams like Virginia Wesleyan? Too small.
But Shepherd University? That fit just right.
The Fauquier senior signed with the nearby Division II West Virginia college on Monday afternoon at FHS.
Atkins will have the opportunity to play immediately as a freshman for the Rams (not the Bears, as the Goldilocks analogy might suggest) in the fall of 2008.
She is also hoping to receive admittance to Shepherd's DentSTEP program — a dental studies undergraduate concentration that aids students in eventually advancing to West Virginia University's graduate dentistry program.
“Schools like Mary Washington are really good schools, but the soccer wasn't up to what I wanted,” Atkins explained. “Then Virginia Wesleyan was the exact opposite; I was a perfect fit for soccer, then the school didn't have the program I wanted.
“So Shepherd had to mesh with both of those, and it does really nicely.”
Shepherd's DentSTEP, PharmSTEP (pharmacy) and MedSTEP (medical) tie-ins with West Virginia are relatively unusual throughout the country. Plus Shepherd's soccer program is an up-and-comer in D-II.
The Rams finished third in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's North Division last season and, according to Atkins, are in the process of procuring a brand-new, soccer-only field.
“The soccer program is growing rapidly,” said Atkins who, in addition to playing for FHS, has suited up for the Stafford Eagles club team the past two years.
Currently, the Stafford Eagles boast four players committed to collegiate soccer programs for 2008.
Atkins' time with her club team will be limited now that Fauquier's soccer season is in session.
The Falcons — 2-11-4 last season — started tryouts on Monday under first-year head coach Greg McLeod.
“I haven't had a chance to work with Megan in the past...I watched her play last year,” said McLeod, who guided the Falcons JV in 2006-07. “They played her in a more defensive role, but we plan on moving her forward, getting her more involved in the attack.”
That is a change for Atkins, who settled in at sweeper for Fauquier the past two campaigns.
She has the ability to excel offensively, though. In fact, Atkins chose Shepherd with exactly that in mind.
“The program they have will allow me to become an attacking midfielder as a freshman,” Atkins said. “I'd be able to play.”
When it came right down to it, that opportunity, combined with Shepherd's academic offerings, proved too much to pass up.
A perfect fit. And not a bear in sight.
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