By Carson Vercoe | Sports Writer
Junior midfielder Noelle Sather waited years for her shot.
Since she was 15, the Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, native had dreamed of representing Canada on the international stage. At times, she felt that goal was out of reach, but Sather kept working hard and practicing patience until it arrived.
This fall, it did.
Sather earned a spot on the U20 Canada National Team, fulfilling that goal. She traveled to Poland to compete in the U20 Women’s FIFA World Cup, where Canada advanced to the quarterfinals before DPR Korea knocked it out.
“It’s been something that I have been working towards since I was 15,” Sather said. “It was a really cool experience to be at a point where my hard work paid off in that area.”
When she returned from Poland, she brought with her a new sense of confidence that translated into production for No. 13 Baylor soccer (11-2-1, 4-1-1 Big 12).
In five games since her return, Sather has produced three goals on a talented Bears attack. She earned her Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week, showing her immediate impact for Baylor.
Representing her country was more than just a roster spot for Sather. It showed years of hard work and a dedication to a goal.
“It was a huge honor to wear the badge, represent the country, but also my family, my coaches, my teammates and everything that I’ve worked for,” Sather said.
Sather spent years on the outside, contemplating if she would get the spot. She kept working despite struggling to find a chance.
The time outside taught Sather a valuable lesson.
“It was difficult being let down in the past,” Sather said. “But I was always patient, continued to be resilient, worked hard, and then finally that paid off.”
Competing against some of the best players in the world gave Sather a new sense of her abilities. She returned knowing she could do more.
“I feel like I came back with a lot more confidence and a readiness that maybe I didn’t feel as much before,” Sather said.
Sather’s teammates feel her return has added another layer to an already talented team.
“Having her back is just the spark we needed,” senior forward Theresa McCullough said. “Whether that’s starting a game or coming into a game, she changes it every time.”
Sather has added a balance to a Baylor midfield that can showcase a more offense-heavy approach with senior Aryanna Jimison.
“She gives a lot of composure in the midfield,” head coach Michelle Lenard said. “She’s really helped improve our depth, and she has qualities that are unique to her that add value to this team.”
Sather showed the Baylor faithful everything they had been missing for a month with three goals in five matches.
Her offensive success is remarkable for a defensive-minded midfielder, but she credits her early training.
“I played defensive mid, but my favorite thing to train has always been shooting,” Sather said. “Even with my dad when I was younger, we would always shoot.”
Sather added that her new confidence has helped her look for opportunities to shoot. The faster pace of international play has also made her quicker at scanning the field.
The improvements have made her a weapon for the Bears, but Sather will not take credit for rising to one of Baylor’s best.
“None of my achievements would have been possible without the team,” Sather said. “They’ve supported me so much.”
Sather’s return to Baylor reflects resilience and patience. With new confidence and a clear vision of what she can do, Sather is putting it all together for the Bears every game.
