The U18 portion of the event will be held at the John Ankeney complex in Beavercreek Twp.
“I’m very excited,” said Gross, who has been making about four trips per week to the Columbus area. “I grew up playing at Ankeney. I was part of the Celtics from U9 to U14. ... I won’t have to drive anywhere.”
The Wright State recruit was a three-time All-GWOC selection with the Beavers, leading them to a 17-1-2 record last season. She was invited to try out for the elite Ohio Premier Eagles after her junior year and made an instant impression on coach Matt Oggen. She not only became a starting center-midfielder, but also is a team captain.
“You look at Sarah, and she just looks like a soccer player,” Oggen said. “And then you see her work rate and the attitude she brings. She works hard herself and demands that from her teammates. If someone’s not playing hard, she’s quite comfortable getting on teammates — in a good way. She’s definitely a leader.”
Her fellow players probably can expect some, uh, prodding from Gross in the regionals. The Eagles qualified by winning the Ohio State Cup, ending a dominant run by Cincinnati United Premier. A berth in the prestigious U.S. youth nationals is up for grabs.
The four teams with the best records in pool play today through Monday advance to the semifinals Tuesday. The finals are Wednesday.
“For us, it’s the biggest tournament of the season. It’s what we train for all year,” Gross said. “I just want to do the best I can and leave it all on the field. You don’t want to have any regrets.
“This is our last event probably as a team. We’re all going off to college. You want to end on a good note.”
Contact this reporter at
(937) 225-2125 or
dharris@DaytonDailyNews.com.
About the Author