By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
SILVERTON, Ore.– Silverton’s Kai Buckley made a name for herself as the center back for the Foxes defense this past Fall.
Buckley was part of a defense that allowed seven goals all season long and pitched 12 shutouts en route to a 14-1-1 season, a Mid-Willamette Conference Championship, and a 5A State Quarterfinal appearance to boot.
For the recent Silverton-grad, she felt like she needed to be that leader of the defense. To help lead and anchor that back third. It was some that resulted in a First Team All-State honor by the time the season ended.
“Last year, I felt like I needed to step up to that role because we had the skill to be a really good defensive backline. I felt like we needed somebody to hold it all together and be positive throughout the season.” Buckley said.
Over the offseason and into the Summer, Buckley has been improving her game in preparation of her freshman year at Willamette University.
Buckley didn’t think that College Soccer was in the cards for her until her club coach from her junior year in Lisa Ljubicic, who’s also coaching at Willamette University, said that the opportunity is there if she wants it. An opportunity that she eventually took.
“I feel like it’s a great opportunity. I get to stay close to home and get to play a sport that I love,” said Buckley.
Conditioning and fitness has been her vocal point this Summer after her Club Season ended with Capital Futbol Club, or CFC, to make sure that she is up to speed with the Collegiate Game once they report to Fall Camp here in a few weeks.
“College soccer is a lot more intense than High School Soccer or even Club soccer,” said Buckley. “I’ve also been working on 1v1’s and having more confidence with the ball to my feet. As a center-back, I’m used to people being around me and open, but at the collegiate level, I need to be able to have the confidence to drive forward and take swings at the ball.”
