News

Meghan Schnur, introduced to soccer as a youngster when her father, Jeff, coached the Butler boys' team, is the 2002 Tribune-Review Girls Soccer Player of the Year.

The all-state midfielder from Butler Area High School learned the game in grade school, chasing around the varsity boys players during practice. She rarely got to the ball, but the determination and instincts that define her current game were honed as a tiny third-grader racing around the soccer field.

"It was fun," she said. "They were really good and I don't think they played me hard because I was so little. But later I knew what to do. I'd seen people play and I had a little bit of knowlege from being around the game."

Schnur taught many lessons this season. She scored 25 goals and added 26 assists to lead Butler to the WPIAL and PIAA semifinals. The Golden Tornado (19-4-2) won the Section 2-AAA title, while outscoring their opponents, 56-4.

Her reward was a full scholarship to the University of Connecticut, a Division I soccer power. She turned down offers to Duke, Florida State and Penn State to sign with the Big East school.

Schnur, who was named all-state after her sophomore, junior and senior seasons, was the only player in the WPIAL to earn All-America honors this year.

She departed on Friday for Boca Raton, Fla., where she will play for the Region 1 1985 Olympic Development Program team in a tournament that includes the Scottish national team.

Butler coach Marlene Peoples said Schnur augmented her natural abilities with a sterling work rate.

"As she went through the years, she became much more of a leader," Peoples said. "She got stronger because she worked hard in the weight room and off the field. She just became a much better overall player.”

Schnur always put the team first. Schnur missed the first half of her junior season with a knee injury but returned to guide Butler to the PIAA Class AAA finals. She handled the pressure of leading Butler this year. Only a 1-0 loss to Penn-Trafford prevented Butler from returning to the PIAA championship game.

“I felt like there was so much pressure on me to perform," she said. "But I like pressure. I think it keeps me on my toes and helps me to play better.”

Schnur has some talented toes. She is an extraordinary passer who would rather assist a goal than score one.

"I just like making the play," she said. "I think it’s more exciting to see the play develop and make the play, rather than just shooting the ball in the net.”

Greg Swatek contributed to this report.

• Most Read
• Most E-mailed
• Latest News