Glen Lake star goalkeeper to play soccer in England this fall
From staff reports
Soccer-crazed England narrowly missed “bringing it home” and winning its first Euro Cup since 1966—after losing on penalty kicks to Italy on July 11—but Britain will nab a star Glen Lake Laker to suit up and play in goal this fall.
Becca Nowicki, the star keeper who graduated this spring from Glen Lake High School, will play soccer in England this coming fall. Nowicki was courted by Macclesfield FC International Academy, which is based in Preston, north of Manchester in Britain’s industrial heartland, after they discovered her recruiting profile on the NCSA (Next College Student Athlete) website. Macclesfield bills itself as the United Kingdom’s leading private development academy.
The daughter of Steve and Jennifer Nowicki, who own the popular Shipwreck Café in Empire, Becca started for three years in goal for the Lakers. During her senior season she recorded 101 saves, allowed only 17 goals against her, and notched seven shutouts, as Glen Lake advanced to the regional files before losing to Harbor Springs.
This will be the first trip abroad for Becca, who is 18 years old. She’ll pursue a degree in football (soccer) studies while at Macclesfield, which offers a three-year program.
Becca has played soccer since she was 8 years old.
“I just started messing around at Myles Kimmerly park (near Maple City). They put me in goal ‘cause I can’t dribble the ball at all!” she said. She played on a co-ed team at Glen Lake, then earned the starting goalkeeper’s job by her sophomore year.
“I like being a part of the team. It’s like a second family out there. You’re working together with everyone. It’s a way to escape, take your mind off everything, and have one thing to focus on.”
Becca will join a roster of international players at Macclesfield, including footballers from the United States, Canada, the Philippines and South America.
“Soccer in the UK is a lot more physical than it is here,” said Becca. “Watching pro teams play, there’s more movement with the ball. It’s more of a lifestyle than it is here. People are more interested in soccer there than they are here.”
