- April 26, 2024
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FPC soccer signees Samantha Jennings (Coker College), Kaitlyn Steiner (Warner University) and Savannah O'Grady (Eastern Florida State College). Courtesy photo
FPC soccer signees Samantha Jennings, Savannah O'Grady and Kaitlyn Steiner pose in front of the Bulldogs' banner. Courtesy photo
Savannah O'Grady, who signed with Eastern Florida State College, is joined by dad Patrick; Malachi Mitchell; mom Lisa and brother John. Courtesy photo
Kaitlyn Steiner, who signed with Warner University, is joined by brother-in-law Matt and nephew Eli; boyfriend Jack Moberly; dad David; mom Karen; brother Matthew; and longtime club coach and mentor Beto Aguilar. Courtesy photo
Samantha Jennings, who signed with Coker University, is joined by brother Jacob Jennings, mom Laurie Jennings, and dad Jimmy Jennings. Courtesy photo
Flagler Palm Coast senior Savannah O’Grady already had a relationship with Eastern Florida State College women’s soccer coach Scott Carswell before O’Grady suffered an ACL tear this season.
Carswell helped the O’Gradys hook up with the team’s doctor, who performed Savannah’s ACL reconstruction surgery and meniscus repair. At that point there was no doubt which school Savannah would choose to continue her soccer career.
“That solidified that Coach Scott is all about helping me as a person rather than me as just a player,” she said.
O’Grady was one of three FPC girls soccer players to sign letters of intent on March 12 to play soccer in college. O’Grady signed with Eastern Florida State, which is a junior college; midfielder/forward Kaitlyn Steiner signed with Warner University, which competes on the NAIA level; and defender Samantha Jennings signed with Coker University, an NCAA Division II school.
O’Grady, a defensive midfielder, scored 11 goals in eight games before suffering the knee injury in a game at Matanzas on Dec. 5. The team’s “speaking captain,” O’Grady “continued leading from the sidelines,” athletic director Scott Drabczyk said in introducing the three players at the school’s signing ceremony.
She never missed a game, including the Bulldogs’ district championship contest on Jan. 31 — one day after her surgery in Orlando.
“I took my pain meds and made my way over (to Daytona State College),” she said. “I wouldn’t have missed it for nothing.”
The Bulldogs played their final 15 games without O’Grady, but her 11 goals still led the team at the end of the season.
Six weeks after her surgery, she started juggling a soccer ball again. After six months she hopes to be able to start shifting and cutting on a soccer field. She won’t be able to play in her freshman season, but she hopes to be back by spring training in 2025.
All of her rehab and checkups with her surgeon will be in-house with her college, she said.
Steiner knows what it’s like to recover from a torn ACL. She had surgery on her right knee two years ago and didn’t feel like she was all the way back until this year. Steiner had seven goals and seven assists for FPC this season.
She said she chose Warner University in Lake Wales, partly because they offered her the most scholarship money and because it is close to home.
“I’m super family-oriented. It’s also a Christian school and that’s important to me,” Steiner said.
Jennings, who transferred from Seabreeze before the school year, said she is looking forward to continuing her soccer and academic career at Coker in Hartsville, South Carolina.
“I’m really excited,” she said. “They have a beautiful campus. The fields are amazing. I love the coach (Michael Donald). I’m ready to go.”
