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Greyhounds' Waugh was 'the heart of the team'
Bruce Matlock
Statesville junior SarahAnn Waugh finished the season with 25 goals and nine assists. She is the R&L County Girls Soccer Player of the Year.
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Published: June 24, 2009
Several years ago the North Meck Storm, a member of the North Meck Soccer Club, won consecutive state cups.
This is not unusual as the highly successful club annually boasts state champions among its numerous teams. What was unusual about these Storm teams was that the boys team was led by a young girl named SarahAnn Waugh.
Some four years later Waugh still stands out, now dominating girls soccer in the North Piedmont 3A Conference as a member of Statesville's girls soccer team. For her efforts in 2009, Waugh is the R&L County Girls Soccer Player of the Year.
"I always played against guys until I was age 12," Waugh said. "The guys were more competitive. I was always the only girl on the field."
Waugh more than held her own against the boys. She has developed into one of Iredell's County's all-time great soccer players. She is a three-year starter who has been named All-Conference and All-Region all three years as a Greyhound.
Waugh, the co-captain on this year's squad, finished the year with 25 goals and nine assists. The 25 goals pushed her career total to an incredible 82.
Although Waugh was the undisputed offensive leader for the Greyhounds, her forte is defense. When Statesville got ahead by two or more goals, coach Jennifer Husbands often moved Waugh back to defense to protect its lead.
"I'm the only one that has played SarahAnn on offense," Husbands said. "She's a natural defender, but when asked to score, she has come through. That shows how good she is."
Waugh, who started playing soccer at age 4, is a coach's dream. She is a leader off the field as well as on the field and is a model student.
"SarahAnn was the heart of the team," Husbands said. "Not only is she a phenomenal player, but she is very supportive of the other girls. She's always there with a positive word. She's like a team mom. She's very nurturing. She makes sure that everyone is taken care of."
Waugh is a versatile athlete. In addition to her soccer prowess, she also starred on the school's cross country and swim teams. She points to her competitiveness and drive to succeed as the keys to her success in athletics.
Waugh is also thankful that Husbands came to Statesville to lead the Hounds. The Greyhounds have seen steady progress in Husbands' tenure as coach at Statesville. It has gone from a perennial cellar-dweller to a serious contender for the NPC title.
The Greyhounds, who finished with a school-best 16-4 mark, lose only one player from this year's team. Statesville finished second this year, and with NPC heavyweights Lake Norman and Mooresville moving to 4A, the Hounds should be the odds-on favorite to win the conference next year.
"Coach Husbands has helped lead our program from the bottom to where it is now," Waugh said. "She has helped us become a team and learn to work together. Our team is extremely close."
Waugh, a junior, has verbally committed to play for UNC Charlotte after graduating from Statesville. The 49ers were a nationally ranked team this year, and the addition of Waugh will only strengthen their program.
Husbands predicts that Waugh will make an impact at the next level."I think that she will be very, very successful at the next level. When she gets to UNCC, she will be an unsung hero at defender."
With college still a year away, Waugh has high hopes for a memorable senior season. "It would be unreal as a senior to reach the ultimate level and be a part of a conference champion. To be a part of doing what our women's soccer program has never done before would be a very big deal for me. We have the potential to win it all next year."
Husbands is grateful for the opportunity to coach Waugh. "She always puts everyone before herself. She has a GPA over 4.0. She is a model student-athlete. I've never seen anyone like her. She's just awesome!"
If they could see her now, perhaps all those boys she left in her wake while starring for the Storm would not feel so bad.
EDITOR'S NOTE: For a complete listing of all-county girls soccer players, see Wednesday's print edition of the R&L.
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