Maurer leads her teams on the field and in goal

By Dre Colston

   Sarah Maurer (‘16), a versatile player who loves to play in the goal, also excels in the field as the team’s leading scorer with 18 goals.
   Ever since Maurer lived in the state of Utah she has always had a feel for playing goalie. Maurer plays for the Roanoke Star Soccer Club outside of playing for the school team. The unique thing about Maurer is that she has the ability to play in the goal for Roanoke Star Soccer Club and play on the field for the Raiders. That is especially useful because the Raiders can put another great goalie, Katie Sayers (‘15), in front of the net. 
   “I have always played in goal first because I liked it, but when I started travel soccer in Utah my coach put me there because I was the best at it,” Maurer said. “Ever since then I’ve just been the best on the team and that’s where I played.” 
   Some would think that playing as a goalie might be very boring, but it requires quite a bit of focus at all times than one might expect. 
   “The hardest part about being in goal is being mentally engaged at all times because in some games you won’t have to do anything, and then there might be a breakaway and you have to make a save,” Maurer said. “There is a lot of pressure to be perfect when you are in goal you can’t afford to make mistakes.” 
   By playing on the field and in goal, Maurer is torn between which position she enjoys most but is sided more towards playing in the goal. 
   “I like both, but I enjoy being in goal for big games because it comes down to like one or two saves,” Maurer said. “When you are in goal, you can’t afford to make any mistakes. In the field it’s totally different because I have help from my teammates.”
   While she has a high motor on the field and plays with hard-nosed intensity, maintaining that intensity off the field has been a challenge. 
  “The hardest part for me about playing in the field is getting in shape,” Maurer said, “And not to be so hard on myself when I don’t do as well, because it’s not the primary position that I play.”
   “She’s always been really good at soccer and been able to play wherever she’s needed even though her natural position is goalkeeper,” said Mary Kate Graeff (‘16), who has been Maurer’s teammate for three years for the school’s team and seven years for Roanoke Star. “It’s nice to play with someone who is so well-rounded.” 
   “She’s scored many goals for us this season, she probably strikes as well as any female in the state,” Head Coach James Brown, “She’s one of the best athletes on the team, I can play her up top, in the middle and even in the goal if there’s a problem.”
   The team has a record of 11-1 with an upcoming game against Eastern Mennonite on April 21. 

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