When Alyssa Otto stepped off the pitch in St. Clairsville for the final time, she did so as one of the most decorated soccer players in school, and Ohio Valley, history.
Otto was a four-time all-district player, a two-time second team all-state honoree and a four-time member of the All-Valley team, including twice being named its captain.
In four seasons, she amassed 145 goals, good for fourth in Ohio history and second in school history. Her 42 goals as a senior led the Buckeye state, her second season in a row doing so.
But that begged the question.
Could Otto give an encore performance her first year of collegiate soccer?
Many players, both from and outside the valley, have promising careers only to fade into obscurity in college.
They are still great athletes. But everyone on a college field is a great athlete, and not everyone has the drive to make the separation.
Otto is not one of those people.
As a freshman at Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference member Mercyhurst, Otto exceled.
She led the Lakers with 14 goals and 42 points total and was named All-PSAC first team and D2CCA all-Atlantic region second team for her efforts.
Otto finished fourth in goals, sixth in shots, and fifth in total points in the conference.
She’s once again ready to continue that extended encore performance. However, like all other fall athletes in the PSAC, the waiting game has begun.
That wait, as of now, will extend into calendar year 2021. But hopefully come spring, Otto and her teammates will be making their way back to the pitch in Erie.
What was your first reaction upon hearing the PSAC’s decision? Were you training all summer in anticipation of the season being played?
Although I was disappointed hearing the news of our season being postponed, I am optimistic that we will be able to play in the spring. Personally, I have been working hard in the offseason to maintain my fitness, and I will continue to train on my own until we can resume training as a team.
The Pa. High School governing body recently announced that it plans to start fall sports as scheduled with no delays, after the PSAC made its announcement. Is this kind of a head-scratcher if the high school programs can, why can’t the collegiate?
While this may seem like a head-scratcher, I am confident that the PSAC is doing everything they can to get us back on the field as soon as possible. With players coming from all over the country and the world, this presents unique challenges for the collegiate programs.
You obviously had a successful freshman season at Mercyhurst. Do you think this may throw off your continued development for excelling at this level, or is it driving you to work even harder to prepare?
Since we’ve left campus this past spring, I have been able to develop a very structured workout schedule. I have a couple of friends who are very talented players and are still in high school that I have been lucky enough to train with over the summer. At this point, I feel more driven than ever, and I am really looking forward to going back to training with my team as soon as possible.
Is there any hope of pushing it to spring for soccer? If not, have they just stated that everyone who has not taken a redshirt gets a redshirt for this season?
As of now, the plan is that we will play our season in the spring.
Did you briefly consider switching to a different conference, or are you home at Mercyhurst, plus given the direction things are heading, anywhere you may have transferred might end up in the same position before things get going.
I believe that I was lucky enough to find a place where I feel I fit in well. I love the school, I love my friends, and most of all, I love my team. Transferring hasn’t even crossed my mind.
