During the past four years, Carroll has tallied 40 goals and 30 assists, and has been named to both the all-league team and All-Main Line squad three times (was first team All-Main Line as a sophomore).

Last year, Carroll’s prolific offense helped the Gators win their last 11 games of the season and capture the Friends School League championship. It was the highlight of her Shipley soccer career to date.

“We lost [in the championship final] the year before, so winning [last fall] was the best feeling,” said Carroll. “Our team is filled with a bunch of talented girls and I’m really excited to get going this year. Even though Shipley is such a small school, we are really lucky to have such good players that [attend] here.”

STRIKING POWER: Carroll said, “What I love about playing striker is [seeing] how physical the other team’s defense plays. It’s awesome to play with talented girls on our team and set up people for goals. It’s great when we move the ball around and play good [team] soccer — and our team is very capable of doing that.”

Shipley girls’ soccer head coach Chris Nelson said, “What most impresses me about Dakota is her willingness to compete.  From practice to scrimmages to games, she consistently strives to perform at the highest level — the technical skills, the field vision, and, most notably, the goals she scores, are a direct result of her effort and her desire to make the most of every opportunity. It really has been a tremendous pleasure to watch her mature as a player and as a leader these past two years.”

BROTHERLY LOVE: Carroll started playing soccer when she was 3 years old for an intermural team in her neighborhood, and her brother Dalton (now a sophomore soccer player at Springfield High School) aided her development.

“I played a lot of street soccer with the kids around my neighborhood and played a lot with my brother — since he is almost the same age as me, things were always competitive in our household,” said Carroll, who also plays softball for Shipley.

Carroll plans to play soccer at St. Bonaventure University next fall. “They are in the Atlantic 10 conference, and even though the drive [to upstate New York] is far, we will be playing in Philly, so it will be good to come back home,” said Carroll. She is leaning toward majoring in psychology, with a minor in business.

— By BRUCE ADAMS
Reprinted courtesy of The Main Line Times