For a girl just making 19, LSU’s renowned sophomore forward Summer Clarke has had a soccer career unparalleled by most.
Coming off a lauded rookie season, one would expect the team’s leading goal scorer to feel the pressure heading into her sophomore season, but Clarke insists that isn’t the case.
“Natalia (Gomez-Junco) and all our other forwards have been scoring a lot too and doing well, so if anything, it’s taken a lot of pressure off of me because we have other players just as capable of scoring goals,” Clarke said. “Jorian Baucom also came in as a really strong recruit, and she’s been scoring a lot [as well].”
Clarke stressed the importance of the team listening to the Coach (Brian) Lee and paying close attention to the little things like watching game film or paying attention and executing the things they learn in individual and team meetings.
“Just taking what we learn off the field or in a classroom setting and doing it on the field will definitely contribute to winning games and scoring goals,” Clarke added.
Not only is Clarke an athlete of impressive pedigree as an All-SEC performer and Canadian international, she also received a selection to the SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll for her performance in the classroom in her debut season at LSU in 2013.
It is exceedingly important as a student-athlete to balance school and sports.
“It’s definitely really hard, especially in the fall when we’re traveling all the time and missing class,” Clarke continued. “It’s really hard, but just when we are here it’s all about making use of the tutors we get and getting in study hall hours. It’s so important to be extremely disciplined. It comes with time.”
Clarke, an international student from Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, says her experience has helped shape her into the player she is today. Her time spent in the Canadian Women’s National Team system has given her a different view of the game that has seen her thrive in Baton Rouge.
“It was lots of fun. That whole process was a year of my life, and it was really cool to go through the whole system,” Clarke said of her international experience. “I guess the international soccer is a lot different than college soccer. I say it’s more like you play based on what other teams are going to do and it’s really specific.
“College soccer is a lot quicker and faster and more go, go, go, but I don’t know, both of them are a lot of fun. I really just like both.”
Though her time with the Canadian Women’s National Team was a unique experience, Clarke spoke of her excitement to play with a talented team of Tigers for her collegiate career.
“We have a lot of very talented players on this team,” Clarke said. “Just being able to go out and play with players that are all really good is different than the other teams that I have played with in the past.”
Although Clarke is both an outstanding athlete on the field and a committed student in the classroom, she never forgets the importance of giving back.
“Our team works with kids at the University Terrace Elementary School. It’s called ‘Kids Hope,” Clarke shared. “We get to pair up with someone and we go in for an hour a week and just help them with whatever they need. We read with them and we can do math or writing with them. We even play games with them and go outside to do puzzles and things.
“It’s really nice to just step away without having to focus on soccer or school and just give time to these kids. We all really enjoy it.”
Clarke’s priorities are certainly in the right place as she balances her time between school, sports and even finding time to work with kids in the community. But at the end of the day, she always comes back to what she knows best.
“I love playing soccer, so every time I step on the field, I try to remind myself why I am playing. I’ve worked so hard to get where I am, and that keeps me going!” she exclaimed.