Photo by: AJ Henderson - Georgia Southern Athletics
FEATURE: Perseverance Pays Off For Kyleigh Drew
9/24/2024 3:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Redshirt junior forward overcomes obstacles to put it all together this season for the Eagles
STATESBORO - Senior nights are meant to be filled with celebration for the future, but for Kyleigh Drew, it was met with fear of what was to come. Drew tore her ACL at the start of her senior night game for Chestatee High School. Now as a forward for Georgia Southern women's soccer, Drew is finally getting the senior night she's dreamed of.
From the age of only three years old, Drew was involved in sports. Drew grew up playing tennis, horseback riding, swimming, triathlons, cheerleading, and soccer. "From a young age, I was just happy moving my body. My parents always said I was hard to put down," said Drew.
The Eagles forward had a natural talent within the sport, but what truly made her stick with soccer was the team environment. "The other sports I played growing up were individualized team sports, but with soccer, everyone is working together to win the game," said Drew. For Drew, her team is more than just a team. "We do everything together on and off the field. My teammates are my closest friends. On the field, we are fighting for each other," said Drew.
Growing up, soccer was everything for Drew. At age 11, she began playing for Atlanta Fire United, where she drove an hour one way for practices. There was no off-season for Drew, which meant never-ending travel for practices and games. "We would be gone around the holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas, so I spent a lot of time with my parents," said Drew.
The senior forward looks up to her parents and describes them as her role models. "They both work in the healthcare field, and they always told me to leave it all out on the field. They both do it every day in their jobs, and that's what I strive to do," said Drew.
Drew faced the challenge of tearing her ACL during the spring of her senior year of high school. "The yearlong recovery from my ACL was very draining on me mentally, physically, and emotionally," said Drew. Drew was only three months post-op when coming to Georgia Southern. Drew was not only facing the challenges of recovery, but she was also beginning a new chapter of her life, college. "Everything was new to me, and I was recovering from an injury, so I was working a lot harder than a regular athlete," said Drew.
The thing that kept Drew pushing was her motivation to get another senior night. "I worked so hard to get to the collegiate division 1 level, and after tearing my ACL on my senior night, I kept telling myself I had to have another chance at a senior night," said Drew.
Drew received a medical redshirt for the 2021 season for the Eagles. The Eagles forward notched her first collegiate goal this season against Mercer, deftly dribbling around the goalkeeper for a finish into an empty net. "Coach kept telling me to put the icing on the cake. I was putting in the work, and then I scored that goal, and I knew I had done it," said Drew.
The Eagles forward is just getting started and is ready to make it all the way in the Sun Belt Tournament. "We've worked so hard all season, and it's time for our payday," said Drew.
On track to graduate this May with her bachelor's degree in exercise science from Georgia Southern, Drew plans to go to nursing school at the University of North Georgia next year to start the next chapter of her life.
From the age of only three years old, Drew was involved in sports. Drew grew up playing tennis, horseback riding, swimming, triathlons, cheerleading, and soccer. "From a young age, I was just happy moving my body. My parents always said I was hard to put down," said Drew.
The Eagles forward had a natural talent within the sport, but what truly made her stick with soccer was the team environment. "The other sports I played growing up were individualized team sports, but with soccer, everyone is working together to win the game," said Drew. For Drew, her team is more than just a team. "We do everything together on and off the field. My teammates are my closest friends. On the field, we are fighting for each other," said Drew.
Growing up, soccer was everything for Drew. At age 11, she began playing for Atlanta Fire United, where she drove an hour one way for practices. There was no off-season for Drew, which meant never-ending travel for practices and games. "We would be gone around the holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas, so I spent a lot of time with my parents," said Drew.
The senior forward looks up to her parents and describes them as her role models. "They both work in the healthcare field, and they always told me to leave it all out on the field. They both do it every day in their jobs, and that's what I strive to do," said Drew.
Drew faced the challenge of tearing her ACL during the spring of her senior year of high school. "The yearlong recovery from my ACL was very draining on me mentally, physically, and emotionally," said Drew. Drew was only three months post-op when coming to Georgia Southern. Drew was not only facing the challenges of recovery, but she was also beginning a new chapter of her life, college. "Everything was new to me, and I was recovering from an injury, so I was working a lot harder than a regular athlete," said Drew.
The thing that kept Drew pushing was her motivation to get another senior night. "I worked so hard to get to the collegiate division 1 level, and after tearing my ACL on my senior night, I kept telling myself I had to have another chance at a senior night," said Drew.
Drew received a medical redshirt for the 2021 season for the Eagles. The Eagles forward notched her first collegiate goal this season against Mercer, deftly dribbling around the goalkeeper for a finish into an empty net. "Coach kept telling me to put the icing on the cake. I was putting in the work, and then I scored that goal, and I knew I had done it," said Drew.
The Eagles forward is just getting started and is ready to make it all the way in the Sun Belt Tournament. "We've worked so hard all season, and it's time for our payday," said Drew.
On track to graduate this May with her bachelor's degree in exercise science from Georgia Southern, Drew plans to go to nursing school at the University of North Georgia next year to start the next chapter of her life.
Players Mentioned
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