Call her a winner
Saylor was ace in Punt, Pass Kick; now it’s as South Park’s goalkeeper
Molly Saylor is the goalkeeper for South Park, one of the best Class 3A teams in the WPIAL. When it comes to playing under pressure, let’s just say she can handle anything that’s thrown at her. Or punted. Or kicked. Whether it’s football or “futball,” Saylor is one of the best athletes on turf. She competed in the NFL’s Punt, Pass and Kick competition in 2015 and 2016, making it to the finals in the female division both times and winning the national championship of the 14- and 15-year-old age division in 2015 when she was 14.
In 2015, she headed into enemy territory and competed at CenturyLink Field, home of the Seattle Seahawks, whom the Steelers beat in Super Bowl XL in 2006. Seahawks fans certainly haven’t forgotten and took to razzing Saylor. Big mistake.
When it came time to take her turn on the field, Molly looked over at her dad, Bill, who was sporting a vintage Terry Bradshaw jersey. He shot her a smile and said, “YOLO,” an acronym for “you only live once.”
Molly had some butterflies, but it wasn’t about the competition. It was what was about to happen right before she did.
“I kind of wasn't supposed to, but I snuck my Terrible Towel on the field,” Molly said. “I’m out on the middle of the field pointing to my Steelers logo and waving my towel.”
That extroverted exhibit wasn’t a one-time thing. She is known around South Park as a class clown who can buckle down.
She’s all smiles during practices and pregame dance-offs with the team. But, when it comes time to play, she has her game face on.
“When we’re at practice, Molly has them all going,” South Park coach Shelly Thropp said. “Then, she can turn it off on the snap of a finger. The second she steps on the field, she’s all business.”
Saylor said a gym teacher noticed how athletic she was during a kickball game and encouraged her to try the Punt, Pass and Kick competition, where she has made a name for herself.
Competing in a national event has gotten Saylor a lot of attention. She has committed to play soccer at New Jersey Institute of Technology, where she plans to major in mechanical engineering. But while she was being recruited, college coaches recognized her from the gridiron as well as the pitch.
“It was a fun activity,” Saylor said. “That’s how people recognize me sometimes, other than I’m the loudest girl in the room. I’ve had college coaches come up to me and say, ‘ Oh, you’re the Punt, Pass and Kick girl?’ ”
Competing in Punt, Pass and Kick was no novelty for Saylor. As a goalie, she is the only player who can use her hands, so the ability to punt and throw a pass is as crucial as being able to kick. Saylor now is too old to compete in Punt, Pass and Kick, so soccer is her future.
Saylor is a three-year starter who has racked up 28 career shutouts, including a streak of seven consecutive a year ago. The Eagles are 4-1 overall and 3-0 in Class 3A Section 3 this year, and Saylor has three shutouts. South Park is ranked No. 2 in the WPIAL in Class 3A, behind only Moon, the defending WPIAL and PIAA champion.
With her play and personality, Saylor is a unique individual who brings the backfield to the forefront.
“All the players in front of you are getting the recognition,” Thropp said. “But, in a lot of teams, the goalkeeper is one of the bigger people on your team. She guides the whole team if you will and makes it a lot of fun.”