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player ready...When junior Sam Urban began the season with the New Trier girls soccer team, the center defender already had committed to play college soccer at Wisconsin. However, she was still an unproven commodity at the high school level.
Urban and Sydney Parker, a sophomore, had the unenviable task of replacing central defenders Jackie Welch and Caroline Smith, a duo who helped New Trier win the last two Class 3A state titles. They graduated last spring with seven years of varsity experience between them.
With Welch and Smith anchoring the backline, Urban’s minutes were limited as a sophomore. But the 5-foot-9 Urban said observing the pair made for a valuable education.
“I learned a lot from them as players because they were seniors and captains and center backs,” Urban said. “I knew I could improve who I was as a player, a person and a leader by being like them.”
New Trier coach Jim Burnside said that in addition to watching Welch and Smith closely, Urban progressed last year by battling New Trier’s star attackers like Kelly Maday and Maggie Armstrong in practice.
“It’s one thing to sit and watch, it’s another to push yourself to get better, especially if you’re not playing in the games,” Burnside said. “To Sam’s credit, she observed, learned and all season in practice worked her tail off to get better.”
Burnside called Urban, who has two assists in 10 games this season, a great athlete and a great center back, who continues to grow in the position.
“(Urban’s) strength is her pure athleticism and she’s an aggressive ball winner,” he said. “She has phenomenal energy and is beloved by her teammates. She knows she must work on being more dominant in the air and just having that confidence to lead the team.”
Through 10 games, New Trier was 9-1 and had surrendered just two goals. The Urban/Parker partnership has no doubt been aided by the presence of experienced defenders, senior Katie Sadera and junior Megan Murdoch, and fourth-year goalkeeper Dani Kaufman.
Burnside said Urban and Parker have all the physical tools necessary to help lead the Trevians to a three-peat, and are accumulating the necessary experience.
Urban said she and Parker have the ability to compete in the biggest high school games, but now must develop the right mindset.
“The seniors and coaching staff have given us advice about where we need to improve as younger players,” Urban said. “But we haven’t been in situations like a state championship game, so (in the coming weeks) we have to focus on playing with the heart and grit that helps you push through and deal with all those pressures.”
For the last few years, Urban has faced the pressure of competing in club tournaments with college coaches watching closely from the sidelines. Playing for FC United in one of these events, Urban first caught the eye of Wisconsin coach Paula Wilkins.
Urban verbally committed to the Badgers on December 15. The Winnetka resident said she will initially attend school as a walk-on, though there is the potential to earn scholarship money down the road.
Urban said it’s a little strange having already made a college decision, while many of her classmates are just beginning the college-search process. The early decision, which is rather common in girls soccer, also brings with it an added level of pressure.
“I think teammates and opponents will have expectations about me because (the decision to attend Wisconsin)” Urban said. “So, I have to prove I’m worthy and show that my improvement doesn’t stop with that commitment.”
Dan Shalin is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press