Jacqueline Keogh is currently a senior at York College of Pennsylvania and is the goalie for the women’s soccer team, which will travel to top-seeded Messiah today for a rematch of last year’s MAC Commonwealth Final.

Game time is 7:30 p.m.

Keogh has been on the team since her freshman year and was a backup for most of her YCP career. However, she has thrived this season, her first as a starter. York College is 12-3-4 following a victory over Lebanon Valley on Wednesday in the MAC Commonwealth semifinal. Keogh has started every game for the Spartans this season, finishing with three eight-save games. One of those took place in a 1-0 victory over Messiah, which ended the Falcons’ 150-game conference unbeaten streak.

“Jackie has been phenomenal. Her goals-against average has been lower this year than last year,” her coach, Kelly Wakeman, said. “She has been tremendous and always tries to maximize potential, and she has been playing some of her best soccer right now.”

The regular-season stats for Keogh include only 12 goals allowed for a 0.68 goals-against average, including 70 saves and 10 shutouts. She is a five-time MAC Commonwealth women’s soccer defensive player of the week.

Wakemen said the accolades have been “all well deserved because she worked really hard to get into this position and that she is supportive, and hopefully when you get that opportunity you blow the doors off and don’t give the coach a reason to look at anyone else. That is what Jackie has done.”

In a recent interview, Keogh spoke about the work that went into the season she has had so far. “Just staying ready working in the summer, working in the spring, making sure that I am getting the training that I need,” she said.

Keogh has been playing soccer since she was 5 years old. She said she learned plenty during her time as a backup. “Being so supportive of your teammates, and it was a big thing for me just cheering them on, saying next ones yours and bringing that energy and making sure that they can do the best they can,” she said.

Wakemen said the potential has always been there, but the key for any goalie is handling the mental side of the game. Keogh has been able to master the pressure, the coach said. One particular skill has been the use of her hands. “She does not give up rebounds,” Wakeman said.

Jack Fennell is a freshman majoring in Sport Media.

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