Anatomy of a career goals leader: Kay Liebl masterfully juggles soccer, track, and biology degree
10/14/2019 11:43:00 PM | Women's Soccer, Features
MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - On Oct. 2, with only two minutes to play in Millersville women's soccer game against Mansfield University, Kay Liebl made history. The senior scored her 33rd career goal for the program, surpassing previous record-holder Becky Morris who had set the record in 2000. For Liebl, it was the culmination of years of hard work on the soccer pitch. Her journey also includes her time spent as a Millersville track and field athlete, which she transitions to after each soccer season. Liebl has been a key contributor on those teams as well, running on back-to-back 4x400 PSAC Championship relay teams and helping the Marauders earn a second straight runner-up finish at the 2019 PSAC Outdoor Championships.
Most importantly, Kay is committed to academics and is pursuing a degree in biology. She is one of the most driven—and busiest—student-athletes on campus.
"Some days are harder than others, but I prefer a busy schedule," said Liebl. "I like mixing it up and I always like having something to do. It might not be the ideal schedule for everyone but it's what I like. I think that sports gives me a stress reliever from the academics and that's how I keep them both balanced."
The story of Liebl's recruitment to the University is a unique one. She was a three-sport athlete at Ephrata High School in northern Lancaster County (soccer, basketball, and track.) Due to those time commitments she could not play club soccer, which traditionally helps increase a player's visibility in the college recruiting process. It took a random day in January for Millersville women's soccer head coach Matt Procopio to get Liebl on his radar.
"We had some random January game. I remember vividly we had 12 kids. It was a last-minute thing we put together," said Procopio. "She came and she was fast, left-footed with a great shot, and that's how I was able to see her. I basically took a chance on her athleticism, and I didn't know what we were going to get. In the recruiting process, you never know what you're really getting."
As it turns out, Procopio chose wisely. In Liebl's junior year, she scored 17 goals and assisted on eight others, helping the Marauders win 14 games to tie a program record. Getting her to that point required dedication on Liebl's part and some creative scheduling from both Procopio and Millersville track and field coach Andy Young.
"I was open to it. Andy's going to make her faster—he's going to be better at that than I am—and I said if she can do both, fantastic," said Procopio.
Liebl gambled on herself being able to juggle both sports. "We decided we'd make it work and to go for it, and here I am. Sports is just something that I'm so passionate about. My whole family, we've always been into sports. I played kids soccer since I was 3 or 4 years old. It's just something I grew up with and it really drives me."
The Liebl family is akin to high school sports royalty throughout the recent history of Ephrata High School athletics. Kay has four older siblings and a younger sister, Kandice, who is currently a freshman on the Marauders track team. All were involved in athletics in some form or another and you will be hard-pressed to attend a Millersville home soccer game and not see Kay's parents in the crowd. That level of support has allowed her to transition seamlessly to the collegiate scene and excel.
"It's the person that she is and not just the athlete," said Procopio. "She's a very special athlete and very dedicated but she's also the first person to clean up and to get things organized. She's the prime example of what happens when you do all the little things. Everything she's gotten she deserves fully. I'm happy for her to see that the hard work paid off."
Off the soccer pitch, Liebl is hard at work on her biology degree with an eye towards the nursing and health care fields. On the pitch, she has helped build the program from seven wins in her freshman season, to 14 in 2018, and now 10 wins and a No. 13 national ranking at the midpoint of the 2019 campaign.
"A lot of the credit goes to the girls who have graduated and aren't necessarily here right now," said Liebl. "They laid the groundwork; especially the seniors when I got here. They set the tone for how you're supposed to develop as a player. I think in my eyes I hope that I kind of followed in their footsteps—that is something I would be satisfied leaving with, knowing that I carried what they started and built on it and helped turn it around even more. I hope it keeps building and building and even after I graduate I hope the team just keeps accomplishing more and more."
Liebl still has half a season to increase her Millersville University career goals record. Every additional goal she scores cements her legacy as one of the most determined and brightest Marauders to ever put on the Black and Gold.
"Having an accomplishment like the record is a huge personal thing, but it's as much an award to my team as anything," said Liebl. "The goal that got me the record, all I did was redirect it. Kylie (Sullivan) did all the hard work getting to the end line and with the cross. She probably did more work than me. I might get the title but I have to credit my team, even all the girls who have graduated. So many of the goals I wouldn't have gotten on my own.
"It's a great moment for her and a great moment for the program," said Procopio. "Kay is an example of what happens when you work hard and what happens when you invest in yourself. To do as well as she has done in two sports and of course in soccer is truly incredible and I'm extremely proud of her for that."
Most importantly, Kay is committed to academics and is pursuing a degree in biology. She is one of the most driven—and busiest—student-athletes on campus.
"Some days are harder than others, but I prefer a busy schedule," said Liebl. "I like mixing it up and I always like having something to do. It might not be the ideal schedule for everyone but it's what I like. I think that sports gives me a stress reliever from the academics and that's how I keep them both balanced."
The story of Liebl's recruitment to the University is a unique one. She was a three-sport athlete at Ephrata High School in northern Lancaster County (soccer, basketball, and track.) Due to those time commitments she could not play club soccer, which traditionally helps increase a player's visibility in the college recruiting process. It took a random day in January for Millersville women's soccer head coach Matt Procopio to get Liebl on his radar.
"We had some random January game. I remember vividly we had 12 kids. It was a last-minute thing we put together," said Procopio. "She came and she was fast, left-footed with a great shot, and that's how I was able to see her. I basically took a chance on her athleticism, and I didn't know what we were going to get. In the recruiting process, you never know what you're really getting."
As it turns out, Procopio chose wisely. In Liebl's junior year, she scored 17 goals and assisted on eight others, helping the Marauders win 14 games to tie a program record. Getting her to that point required dedication on Liebl's part and some creative scheduling from both Procopio and Millersville track and field coach Andy Young.
"I was open to it. Andy's going to make her faster—he's going to be better at that than I am—and I said if she can do both, fantastic," said Procopio.
Liebl gambled on herself being able to juggle both sports. "We decided we'd make it work and to go for it, and here I am. Sports is just something that I'm so passionate about. My whole family, we've always been into sports. I played kids soccer since I was 3 or 4 years old. It's just something I grew up with and it really drives me."
The Liebl family is akin to high school sports royalty throughout the recent history of Ephrata High School athletics. Kay has four older siblings and a younger sister, Kandice, who is currently a freshman on the Marauders track team. All were involved in athletics in some form or another and you will be hard-pressed to attend a Millersville home soccer game and not see Kay's parents in the crowd. That level of support has allowed her to transition seamlessly to the collegiate scene and excel.
"It's the person that she is and not just the athlete," said Procopio. "She's a very special athlete and very dedicated but she's also the first person to clean up and to get things organized. She's the prime example of what happens when you do all the little things. Everything she's gotten she deserves fully. I'm happy for her to see that the hard work paid off."
Off the soccer pitch, Liebl is hard at work on her biology degree with an eye towards the nursing and health care fields. On the pitch, she has helped build the program from seven wins in her freshman season, to 14 in 2018, and now 10 wins and a No. 13 national ranking at the midpoint of the 2019 campaign.
"A lot of the credit goes to the girls who have graduated and aren't necessarily here right now," said Liebl. "They laid the groundwork; especially the seniors when I got here. They set the tone for how you're supposed to develop as a player. I think in my eyes I hope that I kind of followed in their footsteps—that is something I would be satisfied leaving with, knowing that I carried what they started and built on it and helped turn it around even more. I hope it keeps building and building and even after I graduate I hope the team just keeps accomplishing more and more."
Liebl still has half a season to increase her Millersville University career goals record. Every additional goal she scores cements her legacy as one of the most determined and brightest Marauders to ever put on the Black and Gold.
"Having an accomplishment like the record is a huge personal thing, but it's as much an award to my team as anything," said Liebl. "The goal that got me the record, all I did was redirect it. Kylie (Sullivan) did all the hard work getting to the end line and with the cross. She probably did more work than me. I might get the title but I have to credit my team, even all the girls who have graduated. So many of the goals I wouldn't have gotten on my own.
"It's a great moment for her and a great moment for the program," said Procopio. "Kay is an example of what happens when you work hard and what happens when you invest in yourself. To do as well as she has done in two sports and of course in soccer is truly incredible and I'm extremely proud of her for that."
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