Keeping her career alive
BUTLER TWP — Soccer has been part of Stephanie Adkisson's life for a long time.
“I think I've been playing since I was 4 years old,” the Butler senior said.
She's going to be playing a little while longer.
Adkisson will be continuing her academic and soccer career at Barton College, a Division II school in Wilson, N.C.
“I wanted to go down south somewhere,” said Adkisson, who played outside back at Butler. “I found Barton on-line and everything seemed to fit.”
Adkisson plans to major in the business/marketing field.
Barton is a member of the Conference Carolinas.
“They always seem to be among the top two or three teams in their league,” Adkisson said. “It's a good, consistent program.
“All I want to do is help better the team while I'm there, become an established player by the time I'm a senior.”
Adkisson was a key defender for a Butler team that allowed 13 goals in 13 games last fall and an average of less than a goal per game in the 2019 regular season.
Butler girls soccer coach Steve Perri said he's familiar with Barton head coach Andy McNabb.
“I've done some coaching with him and we've stayed in touch,” Perri said. “We've talked about Stephanie possibly going there. He knows she can help them. She fits their style of play well.
“She plays outside defense and is extremely athletic. She's the type of defender who can quickly turn the play the other way and join the attack.”
Perri added that Adkisson gets a lot of assists from her defensive position.
Barton is 2-2-1 so far this spring. The team was 12-6-1 — 8-3 in conference play — during the 2019 season. The Bulldogs have had only two losing seasons in the past eight years.
The team's defensive corps this spring features four juniors, two sophomores and three freshmen. McNabb is in his second year at the helm.
Adkisson is also a member of Butler's track and field team, competing in the long jump.
“Soccer is the sport I've always wanted to pursue,” she said.
