[June 03, 2011] Marlin named All-Area Defensive Player of the Year Tweet Jun 03, 2011 (Morris Daily Herald - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- If ever there was a person designed for the role of sweeper, it would be Coal City senior Meg Marlin. It's almost a shame there is no 'D' in her name because that's how she made a name for herself while playing the game of soccer the past several years. "I've mainly played defense, but when I was younger, I played a little at forward," Marlin said. "Since I've been in high school, though, I've just played defense." Which has plagued opposing coaches who had attacking forwards. Marlin simply put herself in the way to help keeper Sarah Sirovy hold the opposition at bay. She doesn't have a lot of numbers to her name, but anyone that saw Coal City play this year can understand why Marlin has been named the Morris Daily Herald All-Area Defensive Player of the Year after the 2011 season. "I know that playing defense is a key role on the team and that, even though you don't get a lot of stats, it's still important," Marlin said. Taking it on the chin -- and everywhere else Part of Marlin's game as sweeper has involved putting herself in the way of rockets off the foot of opposing forwards who have Sirovy and the net in sight. She's been hit in the head, the face, the backside and everywhere in between in defending the goal. "It's a mentality where you have to go to the ball," Marlin said. "You don't want to lose, so you do whatever you have to do to block shots." Some of the shots hurt, but only if the conditions are not favorable, according to Marlin. "If it's cold out, sometimes it stings, but normally you don't even notice in the warmer weather," she said. "If the ball hits me in the face, my eyes may start watering. No matter what, though, you have to recover quickly and go back to playing." It was an example the rest of the team noticed, according to Coal City coach Mike Kostbade. "She set a tone for this young team, a tone that kept us in games," he said. "This team never quit thanks to her leadership. In those moments of team fatigue, Meg would step up to make critical stops." Growing into the role Marlin said that she has played other positions in the past but that defense is what has suited her the best. "I've mainly played defense but when I was younger I played a little at forward," she said. "Since I've been in high school, though, I've just played defense." Which is exactly what Kostbade needed. "Her growth as a player is a testament to her commitment and effort. She played nearly every minute of the season; the result of disciplined offseason work," he said. "Meg was an impressive defensive player her sophomore year, but since then she has grown into a terrific all-around soccer player. Her ball handling, her passing, her ability to win 50-50s, her touch and her shooting make her a threat anywhere on the field. "Regardless of her well-rounded abilities, Meg belongs at sweeper," he added. "She fully employs her intelligence and athleticism on the field. Her ability to anticipate where the ball is going and getting there quickly is what makes her so good at defense, and it's so aggravating to opposing attackers." Marlin said that anticipating is key to the role she played. That and communicating with the defense and the keeper. "It's kind of between me and the keeper telling people where to go and positioning them on the field. We both instruct the players." Making memories This past season, Marlin had one assist, and she totaled four of them for her career. She also scored a goal on a penalty kick in overtime in Interstate Eight Conference action. "The assist was at a home game and it came off a free kick. Brynna Borgra got the goal," Marlin said. "The goal came off a penalty kick in overtime against Plano." What she's going to be remembered most for, however, is how hard she worked to make herself -- and her team better. "Meg has been a great team leader for me for three straight seasons. Every practice, every drill, every minute of every game, Meg goes 100 percent," Kostbade said. "It was such a pleasure to be her coach, because she loves the sport, loves to learn and relentlessly strives to improve her game. She will definitely be missed." To see more of The Morris Daily Herald, go to http://www.morrisdailyherald.com. Copyright (c) 2011, Morris Daily Herald, Ill. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]