Ashley Hamel of Scuylerville has continued her soccer career into the summer with the Adirondack Lynx. She will be going back to play Division I soccer in the fall at the University of Massachusetts.

June 30, 2008

By Alex Matthews
Special to The Post-Star
Published: Sunday, June 29, 2008

SCHUYLERVILLE, N.Y. Former high school soccer star Ashley Hamel wasn't oblivious about her collegiate options as a small-town athlete, but she wasn't about to give up her Division I dream either.

A year after graduating, Hamel has proven herself in her respective circles -- starting at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and for the Adirondack Lynx semi-pro team -- yet hardly anyone in the area knows about her.

The Gansevoort native kicked off her high school soccer career as a freshman on Schuylerville's first varsity girl's soccer team. At 5-feet 2-inches tall, Hamel stood out, scoring 14 goals and executing more speed and skill than most in the Wasaren League knew what to do with.

She capped her senior year with 20 goals and 20 assists, which broke single-season school records in both categories. The summer before heading off to play Division I for the Minutemen, she was selected to the Adirondack Lynx reserve team and began training with the some of the nation's most talented female players.

During her first collegiate season, Hamel was one of four freshmen on a 20-player roster, small for a Division I team. She made a name for herself, assisting on a key goal that saved UMass from an early loss, eventually playing all 17 games and starting the last four.

But small schools like Schuylerville rarely produce such athletes, and when they do, no one expects it. In Hamel's case, no one noticed.

"No one (at Schuylerville) ever talks about going to Division I schools," Hamel said. "You look at Shenendehowa -- one girl signed with a Division I school and everyone knew. There was so much publicity. When I signed at UMass, no one knew."

She found the lack of recognition frustrating, Hamel said, since most athletic departments brag about high school seniors who sign to play at the Division I level. Hamel heard nothing.

Schuylerville varsity girl's soccer coach David Mehan said Hamel was the best player he has ever coached, between six years with the Black Horses and two years with the Stillwater varsity boys.

"I'll be honest, I didn't know what level (Hamel would play at)," Mehan said. "I thought all along that she could play D-I but I didn't know what D-I school."

She was small for a Division I athlete, he said, and would have to consider whether she would get playing time at a competitive college.

But Hamel won the admiration of coaches at several big-name schools, including Boston University and Northeastern University. The head coach of the UMass women's team, Jim Rudy, took a special interest.

"She was on our short list, and she told us we were on hers so then we proceeded," Rudy said. "She was very good in the flanks, and that's what we were looking for."

Besides her quickness and strong ball control on the outside, Rudy said he valued Hamel's versatility as a forward and midfielder who can play with both feet.

"She's bipeduous," he said, making up the word. "Not a lot of kids can say they're right-footed and playing the left flank...She can go both ways on that."

Rudy discovered Hamel through Capital United Soccer, the capital district's premier youth soccer program, where she had been playing since her sophomore year of high school. He had recruited and coached three Capital United players before her, and rather than the size of Hamel's hometown, he said her record with the club made her an easy pick.

"The school wasn't the issue," Rudy said. "I mean we didn't really look at the school, we looked at the club, and Cap United is a good club."

Hamel's two Capital United coaches, Keith and Liz Villamil, were especially instrumental in bringing her skills up to par with Division I, she said.

"When I started club, I wanted to strive for a high level, but they gave me some confidence," Hamel said. "They really told me, you have what it takes to play at a high level, and they helped me get in touch with (Division I) coaches."

Her involvement in Capital United also drew the attention of PJ Motsiff, the owner, general manager and former head coach of the Adirondack Lynx. Besides being impressed by her club performance, Motsiff said he was interested in Hamel's rise as a Schuylerville star, since he was from small-town Cambridge himself.

"One of the things that I'm always looking for is players of that caliber," he said. "She was a kid that we identified for a couple years -- actually it might have been in the Post-Star that I saw that she was listed as one of the top players."

Hamel joined the Lynx as a reserve player early last summer and began training a few days a week with the team.

One year later, she now travels among some 20 key players and sees a considerable amount of field time. A match on June 14 marked her first starting appearance for the Lynx.

Ever since star midfielder Shona Franklin tore two ligaments at a home game a few weeks ago, Hamel has been filling the void, playing forward and outside midfield positions.

Lynx head coach Bernie Watt said Hamel has improved tremendously since coming back from her first year at college. Her touch is better, he said, and she has matured as a player.

Next spring, women's professional soccer will return to the United States for the first time since the league folded in 2003. The Adirondack Lynx is part of a premier-league effort to develop the best amateur athletes in the nation.

Hamel said she plans to keep playing with the Lynx after she graduates and see where it leads. But for now, she's focused on improving her game for the UMass season this fall, while enjoying some beach time between shifts in the Walgreens photo department.

At UMass, Hamel is studying biology in hope of becoming a pediatrician or doctor in some realm of family practice.

Back in Schuylerville, her 11-year-old brother, Matthew, is showing off his athleticism in every sport he dabbles in. Her parents, Jim and Colleen, support them both, Hamel said, attending all of her home games at UMass, coaching youth teams and organizing travel squads.

Although her Division I and semi-pro pursuit took a humble route, Hamel hopes she inspires others to strive beyond the small-school stigma.

Her brother could be a start. "He's cute," she said. "He's mentioned Boston College a few times."