Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech women's soccer program is unveiling its 2018 class in a new way. Rather than releasing them all in one story, the Hokies will announce a new signee each week in a "Get to Know" format until all of the incoming freshmen have been announced.
The next player to be featured is Sarah Alston (SA) Phillips, a 5-foot-7 goalkeeper from Pawleys Island, South Carolina. She currently attends Waccamaw High School and is contemplating majoring in engineering with a biomedical concentration or sports medicine when she gets to Tech.
For Waccamaw, Phillips played both soccer and basketball for the school, earning a pair of letters as a guard and four letters as the Warriors' goalkeeper. Under Mark Sanchez, Phillips was a three-year captain for the soccer team and helped the team to three straight regional championships (2015-17) and a berth in the quarterfinals of the state tournement.
As a junior, she was 14-3 in the net with 10 shutouts, while making 52 saves while being named as a Toast of The Coast honoree. She set a school record for most saves in a single game and in a single season.
Club experience for Phillips includes playing for the South Carolina United 99 Elite under coach Tomasz Kluszczynski and a member of the South Carolina ODP since 2012. Her club team won a South Carolina state title, the National League Disney Showcase and the Jefferson Cup.
"SA is a charismatic, quality goalkeeper who is going to add some depth to our goalkeeping position," Tech head women's soccer coach Charles "Chugger" Adair said. "She has good athleticism, a good kicking game and a real strong ability to make the big saves. We're looking forward to her jumping into the group, competing for a starting spot right off the bat and just being somebody that provides strength and depth in the goalkeeper position."
GET TO KNOW - Sarah or SA
?Name: Sarah Allston Phillips
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 5-foot-7
Hometown: Pawleys Island, South Carolina
High School: Waccamaw High School
?Other Schools considered: UNC Chapel Hill, Elon, Winthrop, Lander, Coastal Carolina, and Clemson
Why did you choose Tech? Tech was the first perfect balance I found in a college for academics and athletics. Tech was where I found everything I was looking for: wonderful staff, school-spirit, family, academics, and a place I could call home.
What was your favorite thing about your visit? My favorite thing about our visit was being in the locker room before the game, when all the lights were turned off, and we beat the lockers to the sound of Enter Sandman blasting through the speakers.
What do you like about the Tech soccer program? What I like most about the Virginia Tech soccer program is that they are a family. I grew up in a very small town and a family-oriented home, so being able to find a second family in them is the thing I love the most.
What are your soccer strengths? My soccer strengths are communication, soccer IQ, and the ability to mold and learn quickly.
Who is your favorite pro player (why)? My favorite pro player is Erin Mcleod (Canadian goalkeeper). Not many people know her, but I think she is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. She is confident, strong, determined, persevering, and artistic, but she is also humble, open, and honest. I see a lot of myself in her and she is pure class both on and off the field – something I want to be remembered by.
What is your most memorable soccer moment (why)? I would say my most memorable soccer moment was when I won the MVP goalkeeper award at the UNC Chapel Hill summer camp. It might not have been my biggest accomplishment, but to me, it meant something much more than just being able to say that I performed well. It was the first real moment I knew I could compete at the highest level, and that I was capable of living out my dream of playing Division I college soccer.
What do you think you will major in? Engineering (biomedical) or sports medicine
What's one thing you'd want Tech fans to know about you? If you turn on any radio station, I will most likely know every word to every song… and Hannah Montana will forever be my jam.
Previous GET TO KNOWS
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Nicole Kozlova
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Emmalee McCarter
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