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Boys and girls soccer: Marcus seniors make it official on National Signing Day
By Justin Thomas, jthomas@starlocalnews.com
FLOWER MOUND — With boys and girls soccer teams that have been represented in the postseason since at least the mid 1990s respectively, there hasn’t been any shortage of skilled players that have made their way through Marcus.
That talent is typically displayed with large signing classes and Wednesday was no different as the clubs combined have 10 players sign scholarships to continue their careers at the collegiate level.
The Lady Marauders — currently ranked eighth in the nation by the Elite Soccer Report — had seven players pen their names to letters of intent, while the Marauders — ranked No. 19 in the country — had three members ink in addition to multiple players who have yet to declare their intentions.
The Lady Marauders had three four-year varsity players who will be dispersing throughout the country, including Katelyn Mountjoy (North Carolina-Greensboro), Courtney Forte (Oklahoma) and Emily Morrow (Tennessee).
Also signing LOI’s were Emily Preston (Texas A&M Corpus Christi), Maddie Thornley (undecided), Alexsis Cable (Southeastern Louisiana) and M.J. Eckart (Lamar).
Mountjoy — last season’s District 8-5A Midfielder of the Year — will be joining another program with a solid tradition as Greensboro won its conference last season.
“I’m feeling great,” she said. “It’s a great moment and I’m proud of everyone on the team. I think (signing day) shows that the Marcus soccer program is very strong. The coaches are great and help us bloom on the field and it’s a great experience to go through.”
In addition selecting a strong program, Mountjoy was intrigued by the area and the attention she received during the recruiting process.
“I love North Carolina,” she said. “It’s so pretty. And the coach really reached out to me and showed me how much they wanted me there. It’s a great academic school and the coaches, players and city just made me feel right at home. I think I’ll be able to get everything I want there.”
Also heading to a large non-Texas school is Morrow, who is currently rehabbing an ACL injury that has forced her to miss her senior campaign.
But if it wasn’t for a spring shower last season, Morrow could be headed elsewhere.
“The coach came to a tournament here locally and there was a rain delay and he ended up seeing us play,” Morrow said. “So I guess he liked what he saw and it went from there. I absolutely loved the coaches and team and the facilities and the campus are just unbelievable. I went out there twice and loved it.”
Morrow noted that her injury didn’t discourage the Lady Vols in any way, and it also increased her appreciation for the sport.
“It’s really been a blessing in showing me how much I love soccer,” she added.
While Mountjoy and Morrow head east, a trio of teammates will soon become foes as Preston, Cable and Eckart are all headed to different programs in the Southland Conference.
“It will be fun to play against them,” Eckart said. “We’ve been teammates and it will be fun to go against them. And I’ve played against teammates in club before, so it really won’t be that awkward.”
Eckart was drawn to Lamar because its lack of size and relative proximity to home. A location near the beach didn’t hurt either.
Also swayed by the sand and sun was Preston, who is part of the inaugural recruiting class A&M Corpus Christi.
“I’m really excited,” she said. “I’m going to Corpus and get to play with my best friend Tori (Stephens). The coaches are really cool and it’s exciting to be part of the first Islander soccer program. We are the first women’s team they’ve had. It’s a brand new team and I’ve already gotten a chance to meet a bunch of the girls I am going to be playing with.”
One of those girls is Stephens, who is the goalie at Southlake Carroll. It was when Preston accompanied Stephens on her visit the possibility of playing for the Lady Islanders arose.
“I wasn’t even interested, I was just there to hang out with and support my friend,” Preston said. “But the coach asked ‘Hey, you play soccer, right?’ and I hadn’t looked at any other colleges. So I went to a soccer camp last summer and it was great. I loved the campus and being around the beach. We had an official visit and met the other girls and that was it. I feel like we’re going to make a good program down there.
“(Facing Cable and Eckart) is going to be competitive because we want to beat each other, but it’s also great because we get to see each other. We want to be the new program that goes out there and kicks a little butt.”
While some like Mountjoy made their decisions more than a year ago, others, like Cable, took more time but knew the right place instantly.
“I decided over Thanksgiving,” she said. “I went down there and decided a couple days after that. I really only knew the coach for six hours. I went there after a tournament and the assistant coach contacted me. I really liked it, so I called them the next day and made my decision.”
Marcus’ boys that signed letters of intent were Alex Totilo (St. Edwards), Tyler Mouton (Ouachita Baptist) and Brandon Costello (Texas-Tyler).
Totilo selected St. Edwards three weeks ago after much deliberation and after encouragement from a former teammate currently playing there.
“This is a surreal feeling,” he said. “I’ve seen many of my friends sit up there signing and last year I remember saying ‘I want to sit up there’ but I didn’t know where I wanted to go. I finally made a decision that I’m going to stick with and I’m very happy.”
Totilo knew he wanted to attend a smaller school and a program situated in the heart of Austin was an added bonus.
“It doesn’t get much better than that,” he said.
Totilo is also hopeful the Marauders moving on to the next level will drive the younger players just as it did him.
He also wouldn’t mind a current teammate heading to St. Edwards.
“One of my best friends is Haiden (Stiles),” he said. “We’ve known each other since we were six or seven and he’s torn between St. Edwards and another school. He said he was leaning to St. Edwards and I told him to come on and we can be the Marcus Smart and Phil Forte (freshman basketball players at Oklahoma State) combination up there.”
But before the seniors head off to college, they have unfinished business at Marcus, with the Marauders and Lady Marauders opening their respective District 5-5A seasons Friday against Denton Ryan.
“This is a big relief and we can focus on the season,” Mouton said. “This is in the back of my mind and we’re ready for district to get going and see how far we can go.”
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