Wildcats’ Oyster plays above the rest

Updated: June 2, 2011 6:58PM

Being as good as Megan Oyster means having to make decisions few other high school players in country have to face.

It wasn’t something the Neuqua Valley senior defender and 2011 Sun-Times Player of the Year advertised, but had the Wildcats been able to continue their run toward a perfect season and reached the state final – Oyster wouldn’t have been there to participate.

“I had to decide between possibly playing in the state championship game [on Saturday] or going to train with the women’s U-20 national team,” Oyster said. “It was one the hardest decisions I’ve had to make. I love, love, love playing high school soccer and my team, and we were having such an amazing and special year.

“But it was play in the state championship game or stay loyal to my country and get back into the mix of national team players.”

Oyster chose to join the U-20 national team camp starting this weekend in Chula Vista, Calif. She had agonized for days over the decision, but Oyster has wanted to play for her country ever since she suited up for a youth national team game in Brazil at the age of 15.

“As soon as I put on the USA jersey, I knew that’s what I wanted to do for my career,” said Oyster, who is the cousin of U.S. Women’s national team player and fellow Neuqua Valley-product Brittany Bock. “We played against Brazil in their national stadium and sang the national anthem. Just being on the field was a huge moment for me. There’s no place I’d rather be than on that field, representing my country.”

Oyster’s talents were on full display this season as she scored 10 goals and had five assists as a defender while leading Neuqua Valley (24-1) to 24 consecutive wins before the Wildcats lost to Naperville North in a sectional final.

“There wasn’t any game we played this year where anyone on the field was even close to being in the same league as her,” Neuqua Valley coach Joe Moreau said.

With Oyster at the back, the Wildcats went with just three defenders, rather than the traditional four, and allowed only 11 goals in 25 games. Neuqua Valley also recorded 15 shutouts – including a stretch where the team did not allow a goal for 834 consecutive minutes.

“She reads the game better than just about anybody in the state,” Lyons coach Bill Lanspeary said. “She can shut things down so quickly and plays with a poise that most high school kids don’t have.”

Those abilities have meant that Oyster – who is headed to UCLA in the fall – has been encouraged to shun high school soccer all together.

But for Oyster, until recently, playing for Neuqua Valley has always been an easy choice.

“I’ve enjoyed high school soccer so much that I didn’t want to pass up on my senior year,” Oyster said. “I knew we had the opportunity to do something special and we did.”

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