Thomas E Gemkow
For the Chronicle

Molly Keating is a virtual brick wall on the soccer fields. A four-year starter at Citrus High, Keating graduated in 2000, moving on to Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton Florida, where her dominance in the goals has continued.

“There is a huge difference between high school and college ball,” said Keating. “The level of play in high school soccer in very low. Club soccer is not even close to college either. High school soccer is no where close to either of them.”

Keating was one of the main factors in Citrus’ success over the past 4 years, leading the Lady ‘Canes to 3 straight Sweet 16 appearances. Keating was named to the All Conference and All County teams every year of her high school career dating from 1997 to 2000.

“To tell you the truth, I don’t miss high school sports all that much,” says Keating. “If I miss anything it would have to be softball. I almost didn’t even play soccer my senior year, because I wanted to get college exposure and try to take NCAA official visits.”

As a freshman, Keating was also the starting third baseman on the Citrus softball team that lost the state championship 1-0 to Martin County.

“I had never played softball,” said Keating, who quit after her sophomore year to concentrate on soccer. “When I was younger I played baseball, but girls can’t play baseball in high school, so I had to go to softball. I only played in the field, I could never get used to trying to hit a rise ball.”

The college game has been good to Keating thus far.

Ranking second in the TAAC with a 1.09 goals against average, Keating played every single minute of all 20 games this past year, leading the Owls to a 14-6 record and to the TAAC championship game where they eventually lost to Jacksonville University 2-1.

“College is awesome, practices are so much more intense.” Said Keating, who lead the TAAC in shut outs with 8. “I love the whole athletic atmosphere, I have met so many people that way. We all know each other and hang out all of the time.”

Keating is only a freshman, but has not ruled out the possibility of pursuing a pro career.

“A league called the WUSA has just started up and I would love to play there some day.”

But Keating must deal with the task at hand first, returning to the TAAC championship game.

“I think we can win it next year.”