Oct 10, 2018 4 min read

Name: Jordan Sekora

School: McGuffey

Class: Junior

Sport: Soccer

Sekora’s week: The Highlanders’ starting goalkeeper had a unique performance against Geibel last week as she split time in net and on the field in the Highlanders’ 4-3 victory.

Sekora started the Section 2-A contest on the offensive end as a forward and scored three goals in the first half. Sekora then was moved back to goalkeeper in the second half and made six saves over the final 40 minutes of regulation.

With the game tied 3-3 and heading into overtime, Sekora returned to a forward position and tallied the game-winning goal with 1:34 remaining in the extra session.

“I was a little bit iffy when I went back in net because I had so much additional energy while I was on offense,” Sekora said. “It was just a crazy game and at some points it was just a blur. On offense, I just used my speed and tried to out-think the keeper. It helps being a keeper because I know what it is like to be in that position.”

Sekora started her freshmen season playing in the field, before becoming the full-time starting goalkeeper her sophomore year.

“We were low in numbers and I thought we needed some extra energy on offense,” McGuffey girls soccer coach Vince Schmidt said about the switch for the Geibel game. “We believed that she’s our best soccer player and I thought she could help us out on offense. We put her (on offense) in the game before and she got two goals. We thought she could help us out scoring, and she just brings a different dimension to our offense.”

Sekora’s credits the game-winning goal in overtime to her teammates.

“The keeper challenged the ball and it got away from her,” Sekora explained. “It was just a mad scramble for the ball and I was able to put my foot on it. It was an awesome feeling to get that goal, but my team was there with me the whole time keeping me up and motivating me.”

Facing pressure in net: Sekora opened the season with 12 saves in a 2-0 win over Beth-Center Sept. 5, and despite McGuffey’s low numbers this year she has been a steady force in net for the Highlanders.

“If you ask around this section, I think a lot of people would say she’s one of the best keepers in our section,” Schmidt said. “Though she’s not as tall as most keepers, she uses her athleticism very well. Her quickness is what sets her apart. She’s just fast and is a very good jumper. She has improved her punting and goal-kicking over the years, as well as some other technical things.”

One of the best things that Sekora likes about being a goalkeeper is the pressure.

“I just love to challenge and be aggressive while I’m in net,” Sekora said. “There’s a lot of pressure with the position and sometimes all eyes are on you. You can’t let that pressure get to you.”

Playoff push: The 4-3 win over Geibel snapped a five-match losing streak for McGuffey. Heading into the Highlanders’ Section 2-A match with Charleroi last night, the Highlanders had won two of their last three.

With a 3-5 section record, McGuffey is in the thick of the playoff chase for the fourth and final postseason spot out of the section.

“We have four section games left, and we need them all to get in,” Schmidt said. “We have to make a run. Jordan has played a key role for us and I think our offense is heading in the right direction. We must maintain possession and create more chances. We are excited about the rest of the season.”

In limited time on the field this fall, Sekora leads the Highlanders in goals with 10.

“We just have to keep our heads up and play as a team,” Sekora said. “If we get down early, we can’t put our heads down. We just have to battle to get back into the game. We are a good team, and we just have to play our style if we want to win more games.”

Compiled by Adam Brewer