With graduation just months away, senior McKenna Lloyd is preparing to hang up her Wildcat jersey and suit up for the UW-La Crosse Eagles. Lloyd has been a varsity goalkeeper since the 2018-2019 season and has left an impact on both coaches and teammates alike. After the season, Lloyd is ecstatic to get to work with her new teammates at La Crosse, where she plans on studying exercise and sports science.

“I am going to La Crosse because of their impressive exercise and sports science program,” she said. “I wanted to continue my soccer career and I also know that the coaches and teammates are exactly what I need.”

Before being a Division three commit, Lloyd was introduced to soccer by her family.

“My father influenced me to start playing soccer,” she said. “He wanted to share his passion of the sport with me and I also got bribed with ice cream.”

Since she began playing, Lloyd has always strived to be the best teammate possible. Senior Reese Meszaros appreciates Lloyd’s leadership and how much she has helped the team both on and off the pitch.

“McKenna is a strong leader and wants everyone to do their best,” she said. “On the field, she does a good job of talking to everyone so they know where they should be. Off the field, she always puts her best foot forward and sets a good example.”

Aside from her teammates, Lloyd’s leadership has also been noted by coaches. Varsity girls’ soccer coach Jim Jungwirth sees a direct connection between her leadership and the team’s progress.

“I think the team feeds off of her success,” he said. “If she is making great saves, they will see how hard she is working. This, in turn, causes them to work harder.”

Senior Savanna Sandstrom has felt first-hand what Lloyd’s leadership has done to help the team and appreciates her energy.

“I think McKenna has impacted our team a lot in the ways where she brings us together and closer,” she said. “Because she’s our captain as well as our goalie, she makes most of the choices for us during games and practices. She also can see everything during a game because she’s in the back. She’s always yelling to us and letting us know where to move and what to do, which is very helpful.”

Jungwirth has seen Lloyd play under pressure and is impressed by her vision as well as her communication.

“McKenna is our last line of defense; that is a ton of weight on her shoulders,” he said. “With her being the last person she sees the whole field; this is where she shines. She has a great vision of the game and knows how to communicate that to her teammates.”

Sandstrom noticed how Lloyd has used her leadership skills to help her in everyday life as well.

“McKenna has made me try harder, be more serious, and be stronger in game situations. That’s her personality, and it definitely rubs off,” she said. “Mckenna has also taught me a lot of things not even just from soccer but just in life situations and she’s made soccer a lot more fun.”

Lloyd’s teammates continue to attest that her leadership has improved the team. Meszaros appreciates how Lloyd has helped her, and salutes her character.

“McKenna is always there for me when I need her and she can always make me laugh no matter what mood I’m in,” she said. “I’m really lucky to have a friend like her and I’m excited to see the great things she’ll do in La Crosse.”

Reflecting on her career up until this point, Lloyd believes that soccer has driven her to try her best and work with others.

“Soccer has taught me discipline,” she said. “It’s taught me how to be a teammate, and to always put 100% into everything I do.”

By Joe Mayo

January 29th, 2021

Oshkosh West Index Volume 117 Issue 4

Lloyd saves best for last as soccer star prepares to fly with Eagles