Umansky taking her cleats to Madonna

 PCI student-athlete will continue education and soccer at the NAIA university in Michigan

  

Hayley Umansky signing with Madonnna University. The Parkside Stampeder will be studying education and playing soccer with the Crusaders.

By Rob J. Ross 

ST. THOMAS - Hayley Umansky was able to find what was most important for the next four years of her life in school and sport.

The Grade 12 student at Parkside Collegiate Institute will continue her education and soccer career, at Madonna University, a school of 3,500 students in Livonia, Michigan, next September.

"I chose Madonna because of the location. It's only two and half hours away from home so my parents can easily come down," Umansky said. "That was a huge thing in the decision making. I didn't want to be too far away from home."

The other two factors were the school's education program, with Umansky eying a career in teaching education and Paul Patton, the head coach of Madonna's women's soccer team.

"They have a really good education program," said Umansky, adding, "Every phone call we had he (Patton) was saying things that made sense to me involving soccer."

Umansky visited the campus in November and met members of the soccer team.

"I got to meet some of the seniors and juniors and hear what they had to say about Madonna," Umansky said. "They were saying they loved the environment of Madonna. When they started, everyone was there with open arms and no one was there no judge you on your soccer skills. They were there as a family. That stuck out for me because that's the most important thing about playing a sport. You want to have an environment of a family."

Hayley, the daughter of Kevin and Leslie Umansky, and sister to Joshua and Jasmine, has been playing soccer the past six years with Alliance FC.

Andreas Nolte, Alliance head coach for the past two years, after four years as an assistant, has been most influential on Umansky's career.

"He is at every practice with encouraging words. He also has helped us tremendously with universities, setting up xoom meetings with university coaches," Umansky said. "He has done so much great stuff for not only me, but our team. He is someone I look up to a lot within the sport because he has so much soccer smarts and knows exactly how to understand a girl and how to coach a girl properly."

Umansky has had only one season playing soccer at Parkside, due to the pandemic wiping out the spring seasons of 2000 and 2001. A graduate of Mitchell Hepburn elementary, Umansky enjoys the environment at her high school.

"Parkside is a great atmosphere for anyone. We have so many clubs and sports that are there for everyone. I loved Parkside since the beginning of Grade nine," said Umansky.

"All of the teachers are there to help you to improve and succeed. That's one thing all of them have done for me for schooling and playing on the soccer team. They're pushing me to be my best. They helped me a lot with this scholarship and to have the opportunities to talk with universities."

Currently Umansky is on the Stampeders' girls hockey team and hopeful for a high school soccer season come spring.

Umansky describes herself as a leader with intelligence within the game.

"I help push my teammates to the best of their capabilities. I'm a versatile player where I can play any position except goalie," said Umansky, with a laugh. "I can not play goalie."
"I can be throw on to the field at any position and know what to do. I like to think I have a lot of soccer smarts going into the game and knowing where the ball is going to be at certain times."

Her Alliance coach has seen her versatility firsthand on the pitch.

"Her skills on the field will give the Madonna coaching staff the flexibility to play her in either a defensive or attacking position," Nolte said. "Madonna will be adding an amazing person and a great teammate. Hayley is a hard working, intelligent player, that is extremely coachable."

This past season, Madonna, known as the Crusaders, finished second in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic conference (WHAC), part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), with a 7-1-2 record. The Crusaders were 13-2-2 overall and lost in the WHAC quarterfinals.

Umansky will continue training and playing indoors throughout the winter in an open women league at the BMO soccer centre in London.

The 17-year is glad have the next four years of her life planned.

"It's a great stress lifted off of my shoulders."