Former walk-ons walk away as winners
11/7/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Being a walk-on can be a daunting task, as Lehigh is known throughout the country as a school with an excellent academic reputation as well as outstanding athletic programs. Every spot on every team is highly contested prior to starting the season and a player must demonstrate exceptional athletic ability to earn a roster spot.
Seniors Megan Carner and Megan Edwards are excellent examples of what it takes to be a walk-on student-athlete at Lehigh. During the past four seasons, they have demonstrated through their work ethic, leadership and achievements on and off the field that non-recruited student-athletes can have a great impact on the athletic program and also the university.
Carner and Edwards were drawn to each other immediately during their freshman year because they were experiencing similar feelings about being new at college and also feeling anxious about becoming members of the soccer team.
“We didn’t hang out with anyone but each other,” Edwards said. “We bonded from day-one because we were going through the same things.”
Both women share many of the same thoughts about trying out for the soccer team during their freshman year.
“Trying out was really scary,” Edwards said. “I applied to schools based on academic reasons and everyone on the team except for Carner and I was recruited.”
Carner described her experience during tryouts as “terrifying” because everyone else knew they were on the team but she and Edwards were essentially trying out.
Head Coach Manny Oudin remembers what these women were like during their quest to make the team almost four years ago.
“They both really wanted a chance to walk-on,” he said. “They went about their business quietly and did what they had to do. I thought they could help the team and they have been very productive members of the team since.”
What is even more impressive than both women stirring up enough confidence to tryout for the team was their drive to do it. After “harassing” Coach Oudin with “a million” e-mails and being his “stalker” as both women put it, they were allowed to tryout on a team that, at the time, was not experiencing much success and for the first time, was under the tutelage of Oudin.
“Regardless of where I went to school, I knew I was going to at least tryout,” Edwards said. “I felt like I would have regretted not trying out. I think it helped me though because I had to work hard since Coach gave me a chance and I couldn’t mess it up.”
Oudin understands how much drive both women have.
“They don’t take things for granted,” he said. “They know how hard it’s been. They weren’t given anything and they had to earn their starting spot. They’re committed to being better and have always been so receptive to learning and willing to keep an open mind.”
Since walking onto the soccer team, Carner and Edwards have accomplished many things.
Carner started every game she played as a junior and eight games as a sophomore. Additionally, she was an important member of a defense that has posted a school record seven shutouts.
Edwards has a similar story of success. This year she is a captain who is an every game starter. She started 13 of the 20 games she appeared in as a junior and 18 of the 19 games she saw action in as a sophomore. Additionally, she has been a member of the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll the Dean’s List.
Carner and Edwards have been successful off the field during their tenure at Lehigh, too. Both women have the same drive to excel in school as they do for soccer.
“I always have to have something going on,” Edwards, who is a Civil Engineering major, said. “Soccer helps me prioritize school. Balancing school and soccer is really hard but it’s worth it.”
Carner, who is a Mechanical Engineering major, has learned some of the same lessons from soccer.
“Soccer has taught me a lot about time management,” she said. “Mechanical Engineering is a tough major and there are only four other athletes in my graduating class that are Mechanical Engineering students.”
Carner is currently working on a pedestrian protection system for General Motors cars in her favorite class, Integrated Product Design. The idea is to create a hood that will open away from the windshield to absorb the impact if, for example, the car hit a pedestrian. She and her design team are planning on presenting their product to General Motors sometime this winter.
In addition to their athletic and academic endeavors, Carner and Edwards are also involved with community service projects. Both women have been members of Lehigh’s Award Winning C.O.A.C.H. program since their freshman year. During that time, they have visited local middle schools to talk to the children about their goals and also to read to them.
Carner’s favorite memories from the C.O.A.C.H. program have come around Christmas time when the soccer team participates in the annual Adopt-a-Family-Event by raising money to buy gifts for a local family that is in need of assistance. Once the money is raised and the gifts are purchased, the team invites the family to the Roger S. Penske Hall of Fame in Taylor Gymnasium to present the gifts.
Although both women have accomplished so much during their tenure at Lehigh, they understand that it is time consider what they will do with their lives after graduation.
Edwards said she would like to do some traveling and then possibly find a job in construction or structural design, while Carner mentioned she would consider working for General Motors. Carner then paused.
“Actually, Edwards and I have always considered being Imagineers,” she said. Imagineers are responsible for the creation -- from concept initiation through installation -- of all Disney resorts, theme parks and attractions. “We could design roller coasters and live at Disney World. I don’t know what could be better.”
Story by Stephen Graham, Lehigh Sports Media Relations
