McDaniel to start new soccer journey at Allen

Louisburg High School senior Maddie McDaniel recently signed her letter of intent to play soccer for Allen Community College next season. Sitting next to Maddie are her parents Ian and Angie McDaniel. Standing (from left) is LHS assistant coach Michael Pickman and head coach Kyle Conley.

Soccer has always been a part of Maddie McDaniel’s life.

She played it when she was a little kid, all the way up through high school as a member of the first senior class on the inaugural Louisburg girls soccer team.

Even though her high school career is finished, McDaniel doesn’t want to leave soccer behind just yet.

McDaniel recently signed her letter of intent to play soccer for Allen Community College in Iola and is ready to take the next step in her life.

“It is pretty exciting since I have always played soccer and I knew since I was in middle school that I wanted to play soccer in college,” McDaniel said. “It is a small school and it is a community college so I only have to go two years and I can maybe try and go to a bigger school. They even take you to showcases so that four-year colleges can look at us and hopefully move on. They are just like a family there too and that is the way they play.”

Louisburg’s Maddie McDaniel (left) will trade in her Louisburg uniform for an Allen County one next season.

Playing in college wasn’t always a certainty for McDaniel, who has played club ball since her freshman year in high school. She had given up on the idea early on in high school, but her interest was rejuvenated after taking part in a tryout.

“I kind of got away from it a little bit, but then during one of my college showcases I had four college coaches come up to me and said they wanted me to play for them,” McDaniel said. “That was awesome, so I started to look more.”

McDaniel didn’t have to look far as she had interest from several smaller area schools, but Allen stood out among the rest. Two years ago, the Red Devils finished with a 13-4-2 record and were ranked in the top 20 in the nation under head coach Jeremy McGinnis.

Allen was 9-10 a season ago, but McDaniel is excited to help the Red Devils back toward the top.

“I think they are really good,” McDaniel said of the program. “The coach is fantastic and he really knows what he is doing. They have told me that he sees me as more of an attacking forward or attacking midfielder. He just wants me to make passes and score a lot of goals.”

This season with Louisburg, McDaniel made quite the impression with the first-year program. She helped the Wildcats to a regional title and a 14-4-1 record.

McDaniel finished the season with nine goals and 13 assists as a midfielder and was one of the team captains.

“That is fantastic to have someone to sign to further their playing career,” Louisburg coach Kyle Conley said. “She was so influential to get girls soccer to LHS and then to have her sign to play at Allen County is just surreal. I could not be prouder of her. She is raising the bar of our program. It couldn’t happen to a better young lady.”