Douglas soccer player signs with Notre Dame de Namur

Mackenzie Porter could care less that it isn't the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The Douglas High School senior couldn't be happier about the chance she is getting to play soccer for Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, Calif., thank you.

Porter, a three-year varsity veteran at Douglas, is looking forward to become part of a Notre Dame de Namur program that advanced to the NAIA national quarterfinals last fall.

"It was a hard decision," said Porter, who made her decision from a list that included San Francisco State and Dominican University. "I liked the school, it's a small school, which was what I wanted; the girls on the team really made me feel like I was part of the team, and they offered enough money to make my decision easier."

Porter played well enough to earn first-team All-Sierra League recognition and a spot on the All-Carson Country team last fall. The center midfielder contributed a team-high 13 assists for the Tigers, who advanced to the Northern 4A Regional Tournament semifinals before they lost to McQueen 2-1.

"She's tough for her size," Douglas coach Fred Schmidt said of the 5-foot-2 Porter. "She's scrappy, she has good ball skills and she does a good job of distributing the ball. I think she is going to be successful at the school she's going to."

The Notre Dame Argonauts enjoyed a highly successful season last fall when they posted a 19-3 overall record and made their first appearance in the NAIA national tournament. Joe Silveira was named Cal Pac Conference Coach of the Year and sophomore midfielder Yang Zhou was honored as Cal Pac Player of the Year.

"She (Zhou) was captain of China's World Cup team in 1995, so she has quite a soccer background," Porter said.

While junior college would have been one option, Porter decided a four-year school would be a better choice just for academic reasons. Her long-range goal is to become an orthodontist.

Stepping into the lineup to play at Notre Dame will obviously be a challenge, regardless of the position she plays.

"The level of competition is pretty high, so I just want to go there and hopefully contribute to the team," Porter said. "I'll step in and play anywhere they need me."

Her experience at Douglas was a memorable, including the Tigers' regional tournament championship during her junior season in 2002.

"Winning zone last year was incredible," Porter said. "I was fortunate to be able to play here. Douglas has always had a good program. There's a lot of talent in this Valley."