Lely High's Jessica Andrade taking the soccer high road

Photo by Wendy Andrade

Wendy Andrade/Special to the Eagle (2) Seven area soccer players have been chosen for the Florida Olympic Development Team to play in a national tournament in mid July at Monticello. Ala. From left, Alex Persiani, Barron Collier, Jessica Andrade, Lely, Kiera McMeekan, Gulf Coast, Holly Fritz, Mariner, Abby Kastroll, Community School, and Fatima Dimodica, Gulf Coast.

Photo by Wendy Andrade

Lely sophomore Jessica Andrade proudly shows the trophy she and her teammates on the Chicago Fire Juniors of Florida Under 16 won at the Seminole Memorial Tournament in Orlando.

Lely High's Jessica Andrade is taking the high road when it comes to her passion, soccer.

She led her Chicago Fire Juniors of Florida Under 16 girls team in winning Seminole Memorial Tournament at Orlando a week ago.

On Thursday she was named to the Florida Olympic Development (ODP) first team.

Tomorrow she travels to Chicago to participate in the professional Chicago Fire Soccer Academy. Teams carrying the Chicago Fire mantel will compete for an opportunity to advance to national matches and also be part of college showcase matches.

In the three-day Seminole tournament Andrade she tallied a goal when Chicago Fire blanked Tampa Bay United, 3-0. The next game it fell to Florida Soccer Association (FSA) Blue,

In the next match the Fire rallied to down FSA White, 3-1, getting them into the finals against FSA White, which is ranked fourth in the state.

The Fire trailed FSA 1-0 in the final period when Andrade scored a goal after a free kick to tie the game at 1-1.

A rain delay for an hour did not deter the Fire, with Andrade scoring in overtime for a 2-1 win.

Not bad for a team that moved its ranking to 21st in the state by winning the tourney.

"It was huge for us to beat them with them ranked so high," Andrade said. "It has been a tough season for us. To go out there and beat them was huge."

The Fire is made up of select girls from as far north as Sarasota. The only other area girl is Ali Wiley of Estero.

For ODP more than 800 tried out for the teams.

Only two teams, A and B, were chosen, unlike three teams in the past. Andrade's Lely teammate Jennifer Carter of Marco Island, was named an alternate for the B Team. Both will be sophomores at Lely in the fall.

The Florida ODP A Team will play in the national tournament, with every state fielding a team in Monticello, Ala. in mid July. They, too, will play for a chance to make the national tournament.

With the teams selected from players all over Florida, Andrade, 15, is in good company. Other area girls making the roster include Alex Persiani, Barron Collier and Megan Fritz of Mariner, both 17,Haley Pigott and Francesca Fischer, Naples, both 16, Andrade, Kiera McMeekan, Gulf Coast, Holly Fritz, Mariner, Abby Kastroll, Community School, Fatima Dimodica, Gulf Coast, all 15.

"I'm having a great summer. Soccer is my passion," she said.