Ranch's soccer standout signs

Rachel Wojcicki had no intentions of playing collegiate soccer.

But that was before the Lakewood Ranch senior was hospitalized with a blood clot that kept her from competing in the State Cup.

“It hit me pretty hard,” Wojcicki said. “The reality that my (soccer) career was over made me realize that I wanted to continue to play, so that’s what really pushed me to look at schools more.”

On May 5, Wojcicki signed her letter-of-intent to play soccer for Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, N.C.

“It’s so relieving, and I’m definitely not as stressed out as I was a couple of months ago,” said Wojcicki, who plans to major in education. “Now, I can sit back and relax and prepare myself to play (collegiate soccer) and go to school.”

Wojcicki, who looked at several other schools, including the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Saint Leo University, will join fellow Lady Mustang Kaitlyn Kerrigan on the field for the Bobcats next year.

“I think Kaitlyn and I are going to have a really big advantage going in because it’s a lot easier going in knowing somebody,” Wojcicki said.

Wojcicki, who helped lead the Lady Mustangs to the Class 4A state semifinals for the first time in school history, will head up to Lees-McRae in August and begin her conditioning program with the hopes of playing a prominent role in the Bobcats’ defensive attack.

“When (the Lees-McRae coach) was first in contact with me she told me she wanted Kaitlyn to be a big impact player and that she envisioned the same thing for me,” Wojcicki said. “She said that she was hoping I can come in there and make an immediate impact and a big impact.”