Butler's Miller picks Wesleyan
BUTLER TWP — From one winner to another.
Butler senior goalkeeper Paige Miller enjoyed four winning seasons manning the nets for the Butler High School girls soccer team.
Now she will extend her academic and soccer career to another winning program in West Virginia Wesleyan. She never seriously considered going anywhere else.
“Both of my parents went there,” Miller said. “They both played sports there. This decision was a no-brainer for me.”
It was a logical decision as well.
Miller looks to study nursing, a program W.Va. Wesleyan is noted for.
In terms of soccer, the Bobcats have been a West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference power for years. They've been nationally ranked in recent seasons.
“It's an outstanding program,” Miller said. “I know I'm going to have to fight to earn playing time. It's extremely competitive there.”
Miller split time in goal with Mackenna Yaracs for the Golden Tornado last fall, the team finishing 11-2 and reaching the WPIAL championship game before losing in overtime to North Allegheny.
Butler allowed only 13 goals in 13 games last season. The Tornado allowed 15 goals in 17 regular season games in Miller's junior year.
Playing in the WPIAL tititle game will be the lasting memory for Miller.
“I'll never forget that one ... talk about intense,” she said.
Miller has been a goalkeeper since she was 9 years old.
“When you start playing soccer as a little kid, everybody takes thir turn,” she said of netminding. “It just stuck with me. There's no better feeling than making a big save.”
Butler reached the WPIAL playoffs in every year of Miller's high school career.
“Like a goaltender has to be, Paige was 100 percent focused every minute she was in there,” Butler coach Steve Perri said. “The team has to trust you in there and she earned their trust.
“She trusted the players in front of her, too. They all communicated well with each other. Paige let the defenders know what avenues were open. She always watched their blind side.”
Perri is excited about Miller's choice of Wesleyan because “that's an outstanding program and they'll continue developing her skills there.”
The Bobcats are playing an abbreviated eight-game schedule this spring. They are 3-1 thus far with three consecutive wins. Ally Moore, a freshman from Kentucky, has stopped 14 of 17 shots while playing three of those games.
Wesleyan has another freshman goalie on the roster this spring, along with two seniors.
The Bobcats are trying to complete a 10th straight winning season. From 2015-18, the team won 60 games, lost eight and had nine ties.
Their 2019 mark of 13-7 marked their worst record since 2012.
“I'm excited about where I'm going, but I feel sad all of the seniors are going their separate ways now,” Miller said. “I'm sure we'll all stay in touch. We created quite a bond.”
