Emily MacNeil

Even before she had ever coached Emily MacNeil, first year Westfield Girls High School Coach Katie Egan had a healthy appreciation for elite 800-meter runners who also played soccer and with good reason. A 1998 graduate of Westfield, Egan was a star soccer player, and was an 800-meter runner and member of a record setting 3200-meter relay team in the spring.

Egan’s younger brother Brendan, a 2004 Westfield graduate, had combined the speed and endurance gained from running the 800 in track with excellent soccer skills to twice be named first team all Union County as a sweeper. MacNeil, an all Union County player last year and the county 800 meter champion, followed that path this autumn, leading the Blue Devils to an 13-6-3 record which included a berth in the Union County Tournament semi-finals where they lost to Governor Livingston, and the Group IV Section II finals where they were defeated by Watchung Hills. And last spring MacNeil anchored a record setting Blue Devil 3200-meter relay team that erased her coach’s name from the Westfield track record book.

When watching her effortlessly glide down the field with her long loping stride one can
speculate how much better a runner MacNeil would be if she didn’t get all the nicks and bruises inherent with a key defensive position in the rough world of soccer.

But MacNeil is undeterred. “I enjoy track but my passion will always be soccer. I’ve
been playing it for as long as I can remember and winning an important soccer
game is one of the best feelings in the world. The individual wins in races
just can’t compare to a big team victory in soccer.”

While realizing that MacNeil’s presence would greatly enhance the cross-country team, assistant coach Jennifer Buccino accepts MacNeil’s decision.
“Yes, there are track athletes that are playing other sports in the fall, that we would like to have on our team. And yes, they would probably benefit from the distance running we do in cross country and during the winter and spring seasons on track,” said Buccino.

“However, we do not begrudge them their talents in other sports, and can accept their decisions to play something else during the fall season.”

“I never really think about running cross country or its effects on my track
performances. People may speculate but I know that the soccer field is where I should be
and want to be in the fall season. Two seasons of track is all I’d ever want ,” added MacNeil.

And Egan is more than happy to reap the benefits especially in a trying first season where she has lost two defensive starters including junior defender Alison Bridgman and senior defender Justine Palme early in the season.

“Her biggest strength is her consistency. We can rely on her to play a great game, every game we have. She helps set the tone for the rest of the team. When Emily is calm-- so is everyone else ,” said Egan.

“ She also has had to deal with a lot of change this season.” After losing two starting
defenders to knee injuries, we had to move some kids around and play some
girls who have not previously been on the varsity team. I think she has
played a key role in helping our defense to gel over the past ten games.”

MacNeil was at her best in the Blue Devils’ late season game with archrival Scotch Plains, using her speed and anticipation to constantly frustrate the high-powered Raider offense in a hard fought 2-2 tie.

“ I thought the SPF game was a highlight for her. She never let
down, and won some crucial 50-50's for us. I think the entire team feels
very confident having Emily at the back. We will certainly miss her next
year,” said Egan.

“Scotch Plains is always tough competition for us and every year is one of our
biggest games. They are a big rival, mostly because of proximity and also
because I feel we are two very even teams.”, said MacNeil.

MacNeil has been playing soccer since the first grade and credits her club coach, Brian Stentowski, the men’s head coach at Montclair State University, with developing her as a player.. MacNeil has played for her club team, The Parsippany Hurricanes throughout high school . Games continue through the track season.

” It’s tough to balance the two but I try to do my best to make the best of both of them. I really couldn’t imagine giving either one up so I just try to make it work. But the injuries are tough, luckily I haven’t had to deal with any really serious injuries thus far ,” said MacNeil.

MacNeil has been the starting sweeper since her freshman year and as a sophomore
teamed with goalie Megan Connors, and defenders Ashley Kent and Susan Williams
to lead the Blue Devils to the Group IV finals where they lost to Brick Memorial.

“I’m pretty comfortable back there but it’s difficult because there’s new defenders every year, especially this year with some tough injuries. But I think we have really come together and are doing a great job holding down the defense with the girls out there,” said MacNeil.

Her track career has been even more impressive and she figures to be one of the top 800-meter runners again this spring and of the few not running cross-country.
“I think soccer prepared me to be a competitor which is extremely important on
the track. You can train to be faster or have more endurance but having the
desire to succeed and compete is something that I’ve taken from soccer..”

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MacNeil has plenty of company on the track team. Last season Gillian Kape, Erica Ammermuler, Stephanie Bridgman, Lauren Campo, Miriam Becker-Cohen and Alison Bridgman all ran winter and spring track Becker-Cohen, one of the Blue Devils’ top defenders is also an 800-meter runner and will join Meg Driscoll, Annie Onishi and MacNeil on what should be another great 3200-meter relay team.

MacNeil has an older sister, who graduated from William and Mary last May and now lives in Washington DC. An excellent student, MacNeil plans to pursue a career in biology. Outside of athletics, MacNeil is one of the sports page editors for the Westfield High School newspaper, The Hi's Eye. She’s writing her best story on the dual athletic fields.


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