Photo by ROGER LALONDE

Staff

Lely's Gabby Lopez, 4A Player of the Year, will play her college soccer at Palm Beach Atlantic University.

Photo by ROGER LALONDE

Staff

Lady Trojan Gabby Lopez escaped many defenders as she scored a record 99 goals in her high school career. She will be taking her skills to Palm Beach Atlantic University this fall.

A young coach, a team rebuilding and a beautiful campus, is why Marco Island’s Gabby Lopez chose Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBAU) to play college soccer.

A Division 2 school, PBAU is a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association.

Lopez chose PBAU over Rollins College, Barry University, Webster International University, University of North Florida and Ave Maria University.

Coach James Kryger begins his second season in the fall, with eight players returning from a team that went to the NCCAA regional finals.

“He’s the kind of coach I want to have,” Lopez said of Kryger. “He made me feel comfortable when we talked and I am very excited. I have a good chance of being a starter.”

Kryger was contacted, but said he couldn’t speak about a player until they attended their first day of classes on campus.

No doubt he his happy to have Lopez, the Florida Class 4A Player of the Year. She completed her play at Lely by scoring 40 goals and having 20 assists in her senior year. Overall, she slammed in a school record 99 goals.

Lopez expects to be a drop-back forward or a high mid-centerfielder. In those positions she can help on defense and still be an offensive threat.

She likes the PBAU campus and won’t be that far from home.

“I didn‘t choose Northern Florida because it was too far,” she said. “Ave Maria was in my final picks because it has a good coach and only 45 minutes from home.”

Her first day at PBAU is Aug. 9. “I am very excited, I think it will be a good experience,” she said.

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