ADAMS TWP — Purdue was an option. But Reese Dunaway had plenty of other options.

The incoming Mars senior outside back recently made a verbal commitment to continue her academic and soccer careers at St. John’s University in New York. Her older sister, Gracie Dunaway, saw ample playing time with Purdue as a freshman last season.

“I was looking at Purdue a little bit,” Reese said. “I decided to go my own way, do my own thing. It was fun playing soccer with my sister, but that’s done now.”

Purdue and St. John’s are not scheduled to play each other next season.

The Dunaway sisters were teammates at Mars for two seasons. Both played for the Beadling Soccer Club as well. Reese also considered Maryland, American, West Virginia, Coastal Carolina and Cincinnati before opting for St. John’s.

She is undecided on a major.

The Red Storm were 13-7-1 overall last season, 6-3-1 in Big East play. Coach Ian Stone has been at the helm of their women’s soccer program for 27 years. His career record is 246-206-55. He’s guided St. John’s to three NCAA tournament appearances and has been named Northeast Regional Coach of the Year twice.

“The coach has been there for so long and I wanted that stability,” Reese said. ”He’s building the program back up right now and I’m excited to be a part of that.

“Gracie got on the field at Purdue as a freshman and became a solid contributor. I want to do that same thing at St. John’s. My immediate goal is to earn playing time my first year there.”

Mars girls soccer coach Blair Gerlach said the Dunaway sisters have been versatile players in high school. Both spent the bulk of their playing time on defense, but could move to offense when the Planets needed to press the issue that way.

He cited last year’s come-from-behind 2-1 win over Radnor in the state championship as an example.

“Reese started the game at outside back and when we fell behind, we moved her up and she wound up scoring the tying goal,” Gerlach said. “Then we moved her back to defense again. She didn’t score a lot of goals for us because she split her time with us and her (Beadling) club team.

“I know Reese will be with us most of the time this season. She has tremendous aspirations for her senior year.”

Reese has been playing in the Beadling program since eighth grade. She credits her club team for setting her up with recruiting opportunities.

“We went to a lot of college showcase camps,” she said. “We played in California, Florida, North Carolina, in front of 90 to 100 college coaches. That exposure helped my sister and I a lot.”

Their parents did as well. Matt Dunaway was a high school football quarterback at Knoch who went on to the Naval Academy. Their mother, Gina Delano Dunaway, was a competitive cheerleader at Butler.

“They both have tremendous athleticism,” Gerlach said of the Dunaway sisters. “They are versatile players and they’re so competitive on the field. They have fun with their teammates and enjoy their time with them.

“When the game begins, they know how to lock down and focus.”

There is one thing Reese Dunaway has not experienced as a high school soccer player — losing. The Planets have won three consecutive WPIAL and PIAA championships, going 61-0-2 their last three years on the field.

“That’s a crazy streak and there is some pressure that comes with that,” Reese admitted. “I don’t want to be a senior on the team that loses a game. It’s a lot to ask, but we have four Division I commits and a lot of other very good players on our team this year.

“I think we have what it takes to make another run. Besides, all of the other teams want to see us lose and that motivates us that much more.”

Dunaway, Piper Coffield (Indiana), Gwen Howell (Richmond) and Ava Lewis (William & Mary) are Mars’ other Division I commits this season.

Reese plans to be the same versatile asset to the Planets she’s always been.

“It’s good to be versatile,” she said. “I like to play defense and I was recruited to play defense, but that versatility may help me in college as well.”