Senior Goalkeeper, Ella Walsh, Signs Letter of Intent to Arcadia University

Surrounded by teammates, friends and family in the Miller Room at PCA’s Upper School, Ella Walsh, a 4-year starter and all-state goalkeeper, officially signed her Letter of Intent to continue her soccer career at Arcadia University in New York. The senior goalkeeper amassed over 300 saves in her career and backstopped 3 runs to the Division IV State Semifinals and one trip to the Division IV State Championship in a hard-fought 1-0 loss to Newmarket. Along the way, Walsh racked up an impressive 22 shutouts and a 46-6-1 record.

Ella expressed her enthusiasm about joining Arcadia University. In a statement, she highlighted the factors that influenced her decision, saying “I loved Arcadia because it’s 30 minutes away from my older sister who moved 6 hours away for college, but I really liked the facilities and the campus felt like home. Academically, I want to study forensic science, and Arcadia just felt like the perfect fit for me.”

Walsh also thanked her teammates, coaches, and her parents, sitting by her side, for all their support over her athletic career.

Walsh’s coach and PCA Athletic Director, Derek Summers, said it was a lop-sided game against St. Thomas Aquinas in Ella’s freshman year that made him realize he had a special player in net.

“Ella was absolutely peppered in net that game. The shots must have been 23 or 24 to our 2. As a coach, you’d see a play start to develop and go, ‘Yup, that’s going to be a goal’ but then Ella would come flying out of the net and make key save after save. She has been one of the top goaltenders in the state throughout her career, and she’s developed into a great athlete but also a great leader and captain for our team.”

As Ella embarks on this new chapter of her soccer career, the PCA community, along with her friends and family, extends their heartfelt congratulations. The signing of the Letter of Intent is not only the result of years of Ella’s hard work, but a steppingstone to the next chapter of her life on and off the pitch.