Sun staff
Milford High School’s Amanda Darling signed a National Letter of Intent to continue her academic and soccer career at Union College in Barbourville, Ky.
Darling was a standout defender for the Lady Eagles during her two years with the school team, and she also excelled on the club level with the Cincinnati United Southeast Revolution, with whom she played for the past four years.
Darling is going to Union College as a result of receiving the Dean’s Honor Scholarship as well as a Lady Bulldogs Soccer Scholarship. Darling’s schooling has always been a priority, shown by her cumulative 3.97 grade point average during her time at Milford.
During her time in high school, Darling was elected as the Key Club president during her junior year and is currently a member of the National Honor Society and the Spanish Club.
Darling plans to major in nursing at Union, while also making her presence felt on the soccer pitch. Amanda is the daughter of Jerry and Judy Darling.
Also joining Camila Mendes’ Lady Bulldogs’ soccer team this fall will be Amelia High School graduate Corey Bauer. Bauer, a goalkeeper, will aid Darling as the Lady Bulldogs’ last line of defense.
Union College is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics as well as the Appalachian Athletic Conference.
Both the men’s and women’s soccer teams compete on Bulldog Field, a facility that was built in the early 1990s. In 2007, the football field, Burch/Nau Field underwent renovations to install synthetic field turf, which allows play to continue despite some poor weather conditions. The teams play on both fields during the season.
Mendes, entering her third season as the head coach, has a strong class of incoming freshman to add to the Union College roster. The Lady Bulldogs will lose four seniors to graduation at the conclusion of the 2013 school year, but have already received commitments from Darling, Bauer, Brittany Gantz of Carpentersville, Ill. and Kayla Mundell of Fayetteville, N.C.
Darling and Bauer could see significant playing time right off the bat as two goalkeepers and one defender will graduate this spring.
The Lady Bulldogs went 11-6-1 overall in 2012 and 6-2-1 in the AAC, finishing in a tie for third. Union won their first-round game in the AAC Tournament to reach the semifinals where their season would come to an end with a 2-1 loss to Montreat.