By STEFAN MODRICH, Staff Writer
Hanna’s Shannon Perez had a dilemma many student-athletes dream of having — a decision of which sport she was going to play at the collegiate level.
For Perez, signing with Texas Lutheran University to play soccer instead of cross country was a relatively easy choice, but one that at least merited consideration due to the senior’s status as a two-time District 32-6A champion as a distance runner.
She made that commitment official Thursday at the Hanna auditorium, surrounded by family and friends.
While she was beloved by cross country coach Olaya Teran and her teammates, several of whom were present for her signing, the soccer field was always where Perez’s heart was.
Despite her diminutive stature, she developed a reputation as one of the area’s most tenacious defenders, earning a spot as a freshman on the varsity roster and quickly winning over Lady Golden Eagles coach Eliseo Guzman. Perez’s parents credited her middle school coaches for her aggressive on-field mentality, as well as her introduction to the sport playing on a co-ed club team.
“I think it’s because I play smart,” Perez said. “I know I’m not the fastest out there or the most skilled, but I know how to play and I’ve known the game since I was little. I pretty much know where the (opponent) is going to go even before she knows she’s going to go there.”
Guzman praised Perez’s ability to read and react to oncoming attackers as the play developed, with or without the ball.
“She knows how to anticipate the plays,” Guzman said. “When they send the ball, she’s already running to the ball. She gets there before the offensive players.”
Perez said the coaching staff at TLU saw her play at a tournament San Antonio, and that both parties had been correspondence prior to that.
“I just decided that I felt more comfortable signing with soccer than I did for cross country,” Perez said. “I do have a passion for soccer. I do love cross country with all my heart, but soccer is where it’s at.”
At TLU, Perez intends to study biology and follow a pre-med track.
“Coming off of middle school and going into high school, I was a completely different player and played with players I had never seen before,” Perez said. “I’m excited to play in college and see girls from other states and other countries.”
TLU is a private university in Seguin. The Bulldogs compete in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.