Bodamer dominates in the net

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BY DAVID P. FUNK
Times Correspondent | Tuesday, August 14, 2007 | (2 comment(s))

GIRLS SOCCER | SEASON PREVIEW

HIGHLAND | Stephanie Bodamer is the type of 18-year-old daughter of whom most parents would be proud. Her 3.97 grade point average puts her on the honor roll and she stays out of trouble.

And she's a pretty good soccer player, too.

Bodamer posted 11 shutouts last season as Highland's goalkeeper.

She is, by all accounts, the best the Region has to offer in front of the net.

As a junior in 2006, she made The Times All-Area team, was a District 1 first-team pick and led the Trojans to a win at the South Bend Riley Tournament and an LAC Black title.

In fact, she's so good she was invited to play in last year's all-state game, a game for Indiana's best seniors, as a junior. But it was eventually realized that she was only a junior and her invitation was taken back.

But Bodamer remains modest through it all.

"It feels great," Bodamer said, when asked about all the adulation. "I just hope I can live up to it."

Bodamer brings any discussion about her abilities back to her team as a whole.

She even goes as far as to say her personal goal for the season is "to do well as a team" and adds that she's most looking forward to the Munster game and sectionals.

Her personal strengths, she said after some prying, are observing the field and her play in the air.

Bodamer seems much more comfortable talking about her weaknesses, though. She thinks the biggest one is her play on the ground. She's spent some extra time working on that this summer.

Bodamer let a crack show in her humility when asked why she's a goalkeeper.

"I like being the last one with a chance to stop the ball," Bodamer said. "I like the intensity and that it's all on me at the end."

Like any goalie, she's the heart of her team's defense -- one that promises to be as good as any in the area and coach Gordon Walker has a lot of confidence in.

"Our defense is really our strength, with (Bodamer) and some of the others," Walker said.

The senior keeper is dedicated to her craft. She loves the game so much, practicing is one of the only two things she said she does with her free time.

The other is "hanging out with friends." So it should come as no surprise that most of her closest friends are her four senior teammates -- defender Brooke Jones and forwards Natalie Smalis, Erica Kelly and Megan Mortitis.

That senior class is expected to be a good one and should help Highland compete for a championship in a strong Northwest Crossroads Conference.

And in the end, it all stems from Bodamer between the pipes.

Inside
A team-by-team look at the girls soccer season. B3

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The Uzubell Family wrote on Aug 14, 2007 12:53 PM:

" You could not ask for a nicer friend, team member with her wonderful smile and attitude. Stephanie is more than just a great keeper, she is a great friend to our daughter, Megan. She will go far in whatever she decides to do. Goodluck with your season Stephanie! Hugs and Kisses. This was a very nice article and she deserves it with all of hard work! "

Pat and Todd Jaskolski wrote on Aug 14, 2007 10:06 AM:

" We are Stephanie's aunt and uncle. She is truly a delight. Her attitude on and off of the field is very inspiring. This was a great article, we enjoyed reading it.....Thank You!!!! "

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