News at St. Catherine's
Times-Dispatch: St. Catherine's Seeley Yoo named All-Metro girls soccer player of the year
By ERIC KOLENICH
Richmond Times-Dispatch
In her four years as a high schooler at St. Catherine’s, Seeley Yoo and the Saints’ girls soccer team played 80 games. Seventy-two times, the Saints emerged victorious. Seven times they tied, and just once, in all four years, did the Saints lose a game.
“It’s crazy, yeah,” Yoo said of the record. “I never really predicted something like that.”
The soccer team at St. Catherine’s hasn’t always been so distinguished. Back when Yoo was in middle school, the Saints were good, but they were nothing like this.
Richmond Times-Dispatch
In her four years as a high schooler at St. Catherine’s, Seeley Yoo and the Saints’ girls soccer team played 80 games. Seventy-two times, the Saints emerged victorious. Seven times they tied, and just once, in all four years, did the Saints lose a game.
“It’s crazy, yeah,” Yoo said of the record. “I never really predicted something like that.”
The soccer team at St. Catherine’s hasn’t always been so distinguished. Back when Yoo was in middle school, the Saints were good, but they were nothing like this.
When Yoo was a freshman, St. Catherine’s won its first Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association state title. Back then, Yoo was the young one, and Amanda Kim, Erin Menges and Morgan Powell were the players she looked to as leaders.
As time went on, Yoo filled those players’ shoes and became a leader herself. She got help from forward Virginia Jesselson, who was named All-Metro four times and will attend Davidson, the same school to which Yoo is committed.
The Saints were dealt their one loss in the 2014 state final against St. Anne’s-Belfield. After that, the Saints went two years without losing a game. In May, they won state title No. 3 and wrapped up an 18-0-1 season. Yoo scored 27 goals and had 20 assists and ends her high school career as the All-Metro player of the year.
“I felt I wanted to go out strong,” Yoo said.
In three state tournament games, she scored five goals, including three against Cape Henry Collegiate in the quarterfinals.
But her 27 goals were just a fraction of the 93 scored by the Saints all year. The opposition, however, managed just five. So many times this year, the Saints dominated their opponents.
Prior to her senior year, Yoo was known more for her ability to facilitate the ball to other players, set up goals and rack up assists. In 2016, though, she became a scoring threat, herself. It was her final year of high school soccer, and she put it all on the line.
“A lot of it is not being afraid to take chances and take shots,” she said.
As time went on, Yoo filled those players’ shoes and became a leader herself. She got help from forward Virginia Jesselson, who was named All-Metro four times and will attend Davidson, the same school to which Yoo is committed.
The Saints were dealt their one loss in the 2014 state final against St. Anne’s-Belfield. After that, the Saints went two years without losing a game. In May, they won state title No. 3 and wrapped up an 18-0-1 season. Yoo scored 27 goals and had 20 assists and ends her high school career as the All-Metro player of the year.
“I felt I wanted to go out strong,” Yoo said.
In three state tournament games, she scored five goals, including three against Cape Henry Collegiate in the quarterfinals.
But her 27 goals were just a fraction of the 93 scored by the Saints all year. The opposition, however, managed just five. So many times this year, the Saints dominated their opponents.
Prior to her senior year, Yoo was known more for her ability to facilitate the ball to other players, set up goals and rack up assists. In 2016, though, she became a scoring threat, herself. It was her final year of high school soccer, and she put it all on the line.
“A lot of it is not being afraid to take chances and take shots,” she said.
Located in the heart of Richmond, Virginia, St. Catherine’s School is a private, all-girls pre-K, kindergarten, elementary, middle and high school. We provide a well-rounded educational experience for girls from communities across Richmond, Chesterfield, Henrico and all of central Virginia. St.Catherine’s all-girls educational experience is rooted in more than a century of history and tradition. From our revolutionary past to our dynamic present, St. Catherine’s has always focused on preparing students for a boundless future.
