Glenside’s McCool takes on challenge with Washington Spirit

Signed 1-year deal with Spirit

Put a challenge in front of Meghan McCool and she’ll figure out a way to top it.

From a standout high school career at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy through a decorated finish at the University of Virginia, the Glenside native has been a factor on the soccer field. Now, McCool is trying to carve out a spot with the Washington Spirt in the NWSL, the world’s top women’s professional league.

McCool hasn’t made her professional debut yet, but she’s more than ready should that time come in the ongoing NWSL Challenge Cup tournament being held in Utah.

“Inevitably, it will still be super nerve-wracking but I’ve been telling myself when the time comes, it’s just another soccer game,” McCool said from Salt Lake

City between the Spirits’ second and third matches. “I’ve done it thousands of times in my life, it will be higher-paced and I’ll be nervous but (Spirit coach Richie Burke) has said we’re going to make mistakes and it’s ok as long as we don’t make them again the next game.”

An undrafted invitee to the Spirit’s preseason camp, McCool signed a one-year deal with a team option for a second year on June 9. She becomes the second Glenside native to sign a league contract, joining Abington

High School and Penn State graduate Maddy Evans, who played five years in the NWSL before becoming an assistant coach with West Chester’s women’s soccer program.

Blending size, speed, strength and technical ability, McCool was a force at the high school level. In a four-year varsity career at Springside Chestnut Hill, she netted 136 goals with 37 assists and was selected to the 2015 High School AllAmerican game. Part of the highly successful Penn Fu

SUBMITTED PHOTO Glenside’s Meghan McCool has signed a 1-year contract to play professional soccer with the Washington Spirit.