Red, White and Blue to Scarlet and Grey

Daisy Restrepo 
PrideTime Reporter 

As she runs across the pitch, with the wind blowing through her hair, the ball gravitates to her feet, she kicks the ball with all her force - another goal for number nine!

Peyton McNamara (‘20), is devoted to playing soccer. She has been in love with the sport her whole life, from preschool parks and rec, to California for The United States National Team training. McNamara helped the McMahon varsity soccer team make it to FCIAC and state appearances the past two years.She is already hoping (and working) to get even farther next year. When soccer season is over, she also does long jump and she runs track for the McMahon team, with the same convincing athleticism.

“I started playing soccer because my older brother had been doing soccer as his fall sport and I would always join in and play with him.”

McNamara has been playing soccer since she was three years old. Her brother was a big influence on her, as she wouldn’t have started playing soccer if it wasn’t for him. She’s played many different positions her whole life so rarely ever sticking to just one, until she settled for the up-and-down, fast paced nature of the midfield.

“My main position right now is attacking center mid. I’ve been moved around a lot because I’m a very versatile player, so I get put in many different places depending on what team im playing for or what team I’m going against.”

Ohio State wasn’t the only school that wanted her, despite only one high school season under her belt, many other schools reached out as well. Many schools that emailed her and showed interest were ivy leagues, they saw she often is featured on the Ruden Report, and now even has an official profile on the US National Roster. The schools that she considered were Princeton, Boston College, Syracuse, Upenn, and Ohio state. She picked to go to Ohio State because she just felt that it was the perfect school for her.

“I committed to Ohio State because I fell in love with the school. It felt like where I belonged and where I wanted to continue the rest of my soccer career. I loved the coaches and the coaches loved me, I couldn’t have asked for a better situation.”

Ohio State currently sits as the 35th team in the nation, per NCAA. She will be welcomed to Columbus with open arms in the fall of 2020, perhaps with her eyes set on the 2023 women’s world cup in Australia.

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