Golden Falcons' Borel signs with Methodist

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on May 29, 2014 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

PIKEVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock head varsity girls' soccer coach Byron Adkins wasn't too sure how Emily Borel wound up on the doorstep of Methodist University.

Now he knows the rest of the story.

Borel filled out a free application, got accepted, received an academic scholarship and decided she'd attend the Division III school without playing soccer.

"It's a true story, don't laugh," said Borel, who drew attention from four other schools -- Louisiana-Lafayette, Barton, Louisburg and North Carolina Wesleyan.

Borel also considered Mount Olive when she attended a Nike ID Clinic on campus. The senior midfielder worked through station drills and scrimmaged against other players on her same level.

Methodist coach Bryan Madej noticed Borel at that time. He contacted her, the two talked and she agreed to play soccer for the Monarchs next fall.

"I think her choice of going to Methodist is good and it's going to give her a chance to continue her soccer career, which I think is important to her because that's what she loves to do," Adkins said.

"Along with academics, I think that makes Methodist very lucky to have her."

Borel joins an established program that's experienced just eight losing seasons and produced 22 All-Americans during its 30-year history. Methodist has won 12 conference championships and advanced to the NCAA Division III tournament on 10 occasions, which included a runner-up finish in 1995.

The Monarchs posted an 11-7-2 campaign last year and are expected to return 24 players. Madej lost just five seniors, including three defenders and an experienced goalie, to graduation.

Winning is nothing new to Borel.

A four-year varsity starter, she helped lead Aycock to Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference regular-season championships in 2011 and 2012. The Golden Falcons advanced to the playoffs all four years.

"Emily has the ability to take over the midfield and be a leader in that area," Adkins said. "She controls the ball well, her vision is good and that's what she's added to our program here. She can add the same thing at Methodist."

Borel admits there is work ahead.

Madej gave her a demanding summer workout schedule to follow before she reports to campus for the first day of practice. She also realizes that while she excels at playing balls to the forwards up top, there are times when she drops her head and fails to make solid contact on the pass.

Those bad touches motivate her to improve.

Borel's competitive attitude helps, too.

"I do enjoy everything about the game, but I like the competition especially when it's a good team or a hard-fought battle like the three games we had with Eastern Wayne," said Borel, a National Honor Society member who played travel ball with the Wilson Xplosion.

"Those were tough ... high-intensity games. I really hate losing."