The exhilarating moment for Metea Valley’s Kaylee Hansen was nearly four years in the making.
Making her high school debut was alternately thrilling and stressful for the senior midfielder.
“I was nervous the whole day,” said Hansen, one of eight college commits for the Mustangs. “Just thinking about the game, even through the start of warm-ups, I was just ready to play.
“The nerves turned into excitement and energy that obviously helped during the game.”
Hansen providing that help hand Tuesday. The Austin Peay recruit scored her first career goal to spark Metea to a 2-1 comeback victory over Oswego in the season opener for both teams.
Senior forward Gillian Young scored in the 23rd minute to give Oswego (0-1) a 1-0 lead.
Hansen, however, responded with a goal in the 29th minute on an assist by senior midfielder Kyleigh Jannisch. That gained Metea (1-0) the 1-1 tie — and also the all-important momentum.
“I got goosebumps,” Hansen said. “It was just in the moment, and I didn’t even think about it. I just shot it and it worked out.”
Hansen spent her first three years of high school playing club but has bolstered the depth and versatility of the Mustangs, who already had six returning starters in the lineup.
“I just wanted a change,” she said. “I think the high school dynamic is a lot like the college dynamic in the sense you’re always with your team and you’re spending time with them.
“The team chemistry with high school is so much better. We’re always spending time together. Practices are always at a high intensity and it’s a lot more fun.”
Senior forward Lucy Burk then scored the winning goal in the 38th minute on an assist by junior forward Isabelle Leofanti.
“I played soccer with Kaylee when I was about 8,” Burk said. “After that team split up, I hadn’t really seen her play until now.
“We were always trying to get her to come out for the team because we knew she was going to be a great addition. She finally came out this year and performed really well (Tuesday night).”
Hansen did have a crucial emotional link to the program. Her older sister, Kaiya, played for Metea.
Her sister is five years older, and was the vital early inspiration for Kaylee’s initiation to the sport at age 3. Kaiya, who’s now a medical student at Cincinnati, instilled an important component.
“From her, I got the competitiveness,” Kaylee said. “I just love competing.”
Leofanti didn’t know Hansen just by reputation. She played at the same club in the offseason.
“I saw her train,” Leofanti said of Hansen. “I was really glad she joined our team. She’s a great addition.
“We’ve all been connecting really well. We went on a retreat last weekend, and we got a lot closer. I think that showed (Tuesday night) on the field.”
The 5-foot-6 Hansen combines excellent size, quickness and poise in the middle of the attack.
“My style is definitely possession-based,” she said. “I like to play the ball simple. In club, I moved around a lot, even played in the back, but I’ve always been a midfielder.
“I think my best qualities are my field vision and my defensive instincts.”
Hansen has reached her objective in that respect, but now she’s eager for the next stage.
“It was the big time for me to be able to commit to a college, and I think I was on the right path playing club,” Hansen said. “Now, I’m picking a different path.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
