Point Boro Star Haycook Comes Home For A Day

When you hear the words “Point Boro” and “soccer,” often the first name that comes to mind is that of Christie Rampone, the captain of the U.S. Women’s National team.

That may soon change, as Point Boro has another outstanding soccer player who’s making her own mark: Kelsey Haycook.

Haycook, the Point Boro graduate, led New Jersey in 2009 with 47 goals and had the highest two-year goal totals spanning the 2009-2010 seasons and finished with 108 career goals.

She opens her college career on Friday when LaSalle University of Pennsylvania takes on Rutgers at Yurchak Field in New Brunswick. The game is set for a 7 p.m. start.

While the starting lineup has not yet been announced, Haycook, whose firepower has been heralded by LaSalle in its pre-season media notes and team previews, is looking forward to some playing time in her home state.

“It’s really exciting,” said Haycook, who recently received the Asbury Park Press’ Sullivan Award as the outstanding female athlete in the Shore Conference and was an first team All-State honoree of the Star-Ledger last fall. “There will be a bunch of my family and friends there to watch.”

Coincidentally, it is Yurchak Field where Rampone starred as the player-coach of Women’s Professional Soccer’s Sky Blue before cementing her legacy as the captain of the US team at the Women’s World Cup this summer.

And while Rampone has become known for her defensive prowess in soccer, she is one of the top female athletes ever to come out of the Shore on the offensive side of the games.

She was the first Point Boro athlete to lead the Shore Conference in scoring in three sports – Rampone played field hockey and scored 2,190 points in her high school basketball career.

That balance of athleticism led to her being named the 1993 Sullivan Award winner by the Asbury Park Press.

Haycook, who was a 1,000-point scorer in basketball, understands the parallels and comparisons and appreciates the legacy that Rampone has created.

“She’s definitely a role model for me,” said Haycook, who’s a forward, like Rampone was during her college career at Monmouth University and remains the university’s leading scorer, with 79 career goals. (Rampone became a defender early in her tenure with the US women’s team.)

At the same time, Haycook’s not worrying about trying to live up to that legacy.

“I’m just trying to play my game, and we’ll see what happens,” she said.

While Haycook was named to the Atlantic 10’s preseason all-rookie squad, she’s joined a team that has significant experience coming back, including sophomore Renee Washington, who scored 12 goals for the Explorers in 2010, and senior defender Jess Hopton, who was an all-conference selection, as well as senior goalkeeper Melissa Sanger. That should allow Haycook some time to adjust.

“The speed of the game and the intensity are much higher,” Haycook said. “It’s a whole different level.”

In addition to the Rutgers match, LaSalle has games on Aug. 21 at Delaware and home vs. Drexel on Aug. 26.

Then comes the next big adjustment, when classes begin on Aug. 29.

“The biggest adjustment is being away from home,” said Haycook, who plans to study nursing.

On Friday, for one day at least, she’ll be almost home.