One of the secrets to Kendall Fischlein’s success this season was a game that had nothing to do with The Beautiful Game. Fischlein, a sophomore forward for Lake Norman, and a group of her teammates played Dance Central before soccer matches on Xbox Kinect in an area downstairs in Fischlein’s house.
She let out a loud laugh at the idea that the game was the secret to her 20-goal, 20-assist season for the Wildcats.
“I hate just sitting. I always have to be moving,” Fischlein said. “It’s just fun. Megan (Curan) and Katie (Gradert) would come and we’d do it to relax before the game.”
The pre-game dance parties also included Sam Condron, Allye Mertes, and Taylor Waters.
Fischlein had the moves on the video game and does on the soccer field. Her skill up front helped Lake Norman (20-2-1) get to the quarterfinals of the 4A state soccer playoffs. For that, Fischlein is the R&L’s County Girls Soccer Player of the Year.
“Kendall had a great year,” Lake Norman coach Jon Mertes said. “She did everything we asked her to do. She did a great job.”
Fischlein, who started playing soccer at 3 years old, scored two goals and had seven assists in the Wildcats’ playoff matches this season. Their season ended in a 2-1 overtime loss to Hough in the quarterfinal.
The Huskies and Wildcats delayed the match 30 minutes after Fischlein and Condron, a junior defender, were involved in a horrible car accident on their way to Lake Norman. Condron’s car was struck on the driver’s side, which knocked her out for a few seconds at the scene. Condron was taken to the hospital and made it to Lake Norman to see the second half of the playoff match.
Fischlein escaped without injury and started the match at forward. It was a display of what Mertes called her greatest attribute – mental strength.
“It shook me up a lot to see Sam in that condition,” Fischlein said. “It felt surreal. It was pretty scary and was my first car accident. Then we got to the game and went in the gym and had a talk and said, ‘We just have to put everything behind us and play our hardest.’
“I’ve always been pretty tough along with competitiveness. Even from a young age, I’ve always been competitive and had the heart for the game.”
That edge and desire mixed with her talent to work the ball through traffic will take the sophomore to the next level of her soccer career.
Fischlein has already drawn the eyes of big-time college soccer. She said she will likely attend a Region III Olympic Development Program camp in Birmingham, Ala., and go to soccer camps at Clemson, Virginia Tech, Iowa and UNC Wilmington. Fischlein said she wants to play in either the ACC or Big Ten.
She said it’s crazy for her right now getting started in the college recruiting process.
Fischlein, however, is focused on improving her soccer skills right now. She wants to work on her touch, her striking, and be a more accurate shooter.
She will also work on her moves in front of the TV with her Xbox Kinect.
She said, “Hopefully, they’ll come out with Dance Central 2.”
ALL-COUNTY GIRLS SOCCER TEAM
Forwards
Kendall Fischlein, Lake Norman
Miracle Campbell, South Iredell
Storm Mayberry, Statesville
Midfielders
Megan Curan, Lake Norman
Aaliyah Jackson, South Iredell
Allye Mertes, Lake Norman
Taylor Waters, Lake Norman
Defenders
Hannah Gaither, Statesville
Jenna Weston, Lake Norman
Sam Condron, Lake Norman
Goalkeeper
Natalie Stein, Statesville
Honorable mention: Forward: Deborah DeGraff, Statesville Christian; Stef Hardig, Statesville; Kelsey Palmer, Lake Norman; Erin Settle, Mooresville; Midfielder: Taylor Branton, West Iredell; Ashlyn Pierce, South Iredell; Tess Sigmon, West Iredell; Cassie Wodecki, Statesville; Defender: Courtney Boger, South Iredell.
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