She had waited more than a year to get back to playing high school soccer, so Brittany Ratcliffe had a little extra energy upon her return to the Paul VI team.
In addition to returning to preseason practice and assuming her role as one of South Jersey's most dangerous forwards, Ratcliffe did extra duty as a volunteer instructor.
When the Paul VI freshmen reported for tryouts, there was Ratcliffe, lending a helping hand, not to mention a booming foot.
"She was so great working with the freshmen," Paul VI varsity coach Keith Walters said. "She came every day and showed so much enthusiasm."
That meant waking up at 6 a.m., attending the 8 a.m workouts, and then staying around for the Paul VI varsity practice. And Ratcliffe couldn't get enough of it.
That is the true definition of teamwork. Ratcliffe wanted to pay back the program became she remembers the apprehension she felt coming into high school as a ninth grader, although one couldn't tell by her performances. She scored 12 goals for the varsity that first season.
"I remember when I was a freshman and it was so cool when a senior would try to help me out," she said.
Imagine how cool it was for this year's freshmen, when they were being tutored by a Division I player, one who has made an oral commitment to the University of Virginia.
And for all the joy that was enacted from working with the young players, the feeling was almost indescribable when Ratcliffe returned to her varsity practices. She was an Inquirer first-team all-South Jersey selection as a sophomore in 2009, with 23 goals and 12 assists.
Then in June 2010, she tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee while playing club soccer and had surgery on Aug. 26.
So she missed all of last season, and as with most high-level competitors, the pain of sitting out exceeded what she felt in her knee.
"I remember some points I would cry, sitting on the sidelines," Ratcliffe recalled.
Then quickly looking at the bright side, she added, "Watching my teammates play was so great because they treated me like I never left and were always there for me."
Ratcliffe is so relieved to have her college decision completed and is equally excited to be competing in one of college soccer's best leagues, the Atlantic Coast Conference.
"The whole recruiting process was hectic," she said. "The people at Virginia, the coaches, the players were so down to earth and I loved the school and it was a perfect fit."
