By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

AURORA, Ore.–  Known for her aggression on the field, North Marion’s Adrie Lader has looked to the sport of soccer as a way of anger management.  To help her have a piece of mind as soon as she steps off the pitch.

Yet again, Lader points, as soon as she steps off the field, she just wants to get back onto it and do it all over again.  But this passion has helped Lader become a four-year starter for the Huskies that saw North Marion reach three 4A State Semi-Final appearances and a Championship Title during the Covid-Short season back during the 2020-2021 school year.  This past year, suffering from some hip issues, Lader battled through it and aided the Huskies to the Semi-Final round as a defender before the North Marion squad fell to eventual State Champions Marist this past Fall.

“It was really hard, I had days where I just hurt so bad I didn’t want to play anymore.  But having my family, friends and teammates having my back, telling me that it was going to be ok and that I just gotta keep going was super important. (Soccer) has meant so much, I’ve been playing since I could remember,” Lader said of the hip issue and the importance of soccer to her.  “It’s definitely a love of mine, when I’m not on the field I’m wishing I was.  It’s a way for me to clear my head, it’s another life out there.

“Being passionate and aggressive has driven me to take a different take on the love of the game.  I’m really going to work my butt off the next couple of months, preparing for that first college season and staying more aggressive.  It’s not going to be easy, but just to keep on improving my game month-by-month and doing it every day.”

Lader signed to play soccer at Bushnell University in Eugene and celebrated the accomplishment Friday North Marion High School with friends, family, and coaches who’ve helped her to this point of her career.  Joining a Beacons squad looking to snap their 20-game losing streak under first-year Head Coach Hallie Meadows, who was just named Head Coach of the program in January of this year.

While at Bushnell, Lader will be majoring in Foresnic Psychology.  One of two universities in the State of Oregon to have the major as she’s excited to see where the academic program will take her when her playing days are over.

“I’ve always been interested in the minds of people and why people make the choices that they do.  Bushnell is a special school that offer Forensic Psychology, and that’s another reason why I picked them.  I think they’re going to help me find exactly what I want to do after college, so I’m super excited to see where that takes me,” Lader said.

Photos By Jeremy McDonald