Claire Ramsey may be just a sophomore, but she has the opportunity to do something nobody else has ever done in a Nazareth soccer uniform.
The Clarendon Hills resident has a chance to break the school record for most goals in a season, 30, set by Erin Voss in 2008.
Ramsey has 20 goals through 16 games, with four regular-season games to play. If Nazareth makes another deep run in the playoffs — last year the Roadrunners played four games in the postseason — she might be able to set the mark.
While it would be quite the accomplishment, her chase has been under the radar.
In fact Ramsey didn’t even know she could make Roadrunners’ history until a few games ago, when one of her teammates clued her in.
“I didn’t know anything about the record until Mary Clare Harrington, who is one of my best friends, told me about it,” Ramsey said. “It’s a goal in the back of my head, but I try not to talk about it. I don’t want it to affect the play and I don’t want to be selfish with the ball.”
Ramsey got Nazareth on the board in a 2-0 East Suburban Catholic home win over Fenwick (6-5-1, 2-2-1) on Wednesday, April 29 as the Roadrunners improved to 5-3 in the conference.
An offensive threat on the varsity last year, she’s made real progress in her game. Ramsey is a captain now and feels more responsibility, and she also has grown almost five inches.
“Last year I was just trying to get a feel for the team and how we connected,” Ramsey said. “I didn’t have any expectations, but this year I feel more confident. Last year I got pushed off the ball a lot and I’m taller now and that’s really helped.”
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While she’s scoring at a remarkable rate, her true value to the team is how she handles the ball and makes the whole offense run.
“She’s instrumental in the middle of the field, so her work rate is essential to our success,” coach John Nikchevich said. “That’s what’s churning us. The goals are just the added benefit we get out of her.”
Ramsey, who also was Nazareth’s top runner last fall at the Class 2A cross country meet, is also starting to think about college. She wants to be a veterinarian and thinks she might just play club soccer so she can focus on school.
Notes
* Nazareth and Fenwick were scoreless through the first half before Nazareth took the lead with 33 minutes, 52 seconds to play on Ramsey’s penalty kick. Ramsey converted after Kelly Renehan was fouled in the box when she beat the goalie and had a wide-open net. “I tried to take on the goalie and right after I made the move I felt two girls run right on top of me,” Renehan said. “It hurt pretty bad and I just collapsed.”
* Lily Franko added an insurance goal from right in front of the net with 15:28 remaining on a perfect pass from Renehan. Peggy Masterson registered the shutout in goal.
Valentin is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.