NP Soccer Star Scores With Monmouth Commitment

     Carly Yost found Monmouth University to be a perfect fit for both soccer and academics.  Being at the Jersey Shore isn’t so bad, either.

     The North Penn senior finished up an injury-plagued soccer season last fall.  She recently made a commitment to head to Monmouth, a school located on West Long Branch in walking distance from the Atlantic Ocean.

     “I do love the beach,” Yost said.  “They do a lot of training on the beach, so I’m really looking forward to that.”

     Yost battled back from a knee injury suffered before the season began and still attracted the attention of several schools.  Monmouth wasn’t the first choice for Yost, but it proved to be the best fit after a visit to the campus.

     “It was one of the later schools I visited,” said Yost.  “A lot of the schools I was looking at showed a strong interest, but the assistant coach there took me on a tour and emphasized how much they wanted me to play for them.  The academics are really good and the whole atmosphere just really seemed to fit me.”

     Yost has always had a passion for soccer, but decided to take a break from the game during her freshman season.  It helped Yost realized just how much she loved soccer, so she returned to the soccer field at North Penn the following year.

     “It was hard not playing that year,” Yost said.  “I had been playing soccer since I was five and I really missed it.  Not playing was uncomfortable.  Cross country was fun, but soccer is my first love.”

     After two impressive seasons, Yost was looking forward to her senior year, the first for North Penn with a fall soccer schedule.  But during the second scrimmage of the preseason, Yost was knocked out of action.  Even with the return of Yost, the Maidens fell to Methacton in a District One Class AAA first round playoff match.  North Penn finished season with a record of 8-6-5.

     “I got hurt in the second scrimmage,” said Yost.  “I sprained my LCL.  It was a pretty bad sprain.  When I got back I had pain in my shin and my calf.  I played through that in the playoffs but we ended up losing in the second round of PKs.  It was a frustrating month.”

     One of the intangibles which caught the attention of the Monmouth coaching staff was Yost’s leadership qualities.  Yost served as a captain this past season and did her best to set an example for the younger players on the North Penn roster.

     “It’s always a huge factor in any sport,” Yost said.  “I think of myself as a good leader.  I’m the captain for my club team, too.  I try to be the best role model for my teammates.  I’m always trying to be better as a player and as a person.”

     Yost credits much of her soccer success to her time with the FC Delco Force, a Region 1 premier club team.  Yost had the opportunity to sharpen her skills against some of the top players in the nation.

     “That’s really what got me into college,” said Yost.  “Playing with them, I got a lot of experience.  You do a bunch of college showcases.  When we would go travel, it was a really good experience to be able to play against the best players in the United States.  It challenged me.”

     One of Yost’s club teammates, Jill Root, is also heading to Monmouth.  However, Yost knows it will be difficult to say goodbye to the rest of her teammates at both FC Delco and North Penn.

     “I am fortunate that I’m going to be playing with my teammate from FC Delco,” said Yost.  “She’s coming with me to Monmouth.  I’m excited to have her with me, but I will miss my teammates.”

     Yost is expected to see significant playing time during her freshman season.  As long as Yost can stay injury-free, she will be well on her way to a successful run at Monmouth.