[ad_1]
Article content continued
“It was difficult to be recruited,” Butkovich said. “The showcase (tournaments) we go to are big and have a lot of (NCAA) schools. They got cancelled, so it was hard to be seen and I was getting a little nervous.”
At one point, Butkovich was looking at attending the University of Windsor, but then the University of Detroit Mercy Titans stepped in with an offer.
“I came across Detroit Mercy and they didn’t have the problems,” Butkovich said. “A few of their seniors were staying, but it wasn’t a problem.”
The only catch was head coach Steve Shelton wanted her decision immediately.
“The environment was fantastic, it was everything I wanted and close to home,” said Butkovich, who has been accepted into the accelerated physician assistant program. “It was a pretty easy choice.”
The Titans’ roster is already stocked with several Windsor and Essex County soccer products and Butkovich was part of an eight-player class that also includes Villanova’s Danica Paesano.
“I know quite a few players already,” Butkovich said. “They answered a lot of my questions and I could text them.”
Butkovich considers herself more of a defensive midfielder, but isn’t afraid to jump into the play.
“Sophia is a central midfielder with a high soccer IQ and the ability to connect the game,” Shelton said. “She is very good in possession and will help with dictating the pace of the game. She is a good ball winner and one that can become dominant in the middle of the field.”
Butkovich helped St. Anne to back-to-back appearances in the WECSSAA girls’ AAA final and won an Ontario Cup in 2019, a Super Y League national title in 2015 and 2017 and was invited to the SYL U.S. Technical championship.
“(Detroit) was not part of my list,” Butkovich admits. “I had a few other D1 (schools) I was looking after, but recruiting with other schools got a little difficult and I’m pretty lucky to have this option.”
jpparker@postmedia.com
[ad_2]
Source link
