Like her sister who preceded her, Skowhegan's Carmen Ballard is a force in the nets
Copyright © 2002 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
Growing up, Skowhegan Area High School senior Carmen Ballard only had to look across the kitchen table to find her role model. As a freshman Ballard was the goalkeeper for the Indian junior varsity soccer team while her older sister, Keri, started for the varsity.
Staff photo by JONATHAN MIANOSkowhegan Area High School senior Carmen Ballard followed in the footsteps of her older sister, Keir, to lead theIndians with excellent play in goal. She allowed just 13 goals in 12 game while facing 191 shots. click to enlarge
Over the next three years, Carmen claimed the job as the starting goalkeeper at Skowhegan and has left an impressive mark just as her older sister did. Her athletic ability and aggressive play helped keep the Indians in contention in the tough Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference for the past three seasons.
"I learned a lot from my sister," said Carmen. "She was really good and I wanted to be as good as her."
Ballard's game was impressive this season. Her goalkeeping abilities and leadership on the field strengthened the play of a young inexperienced Indians team as the team finished 6-4-2 in the regular-season. In 12 regular season games Ballard, a senior, allowed just 13 goals while facing 191 shots. For her effort this season Ballard has been named the Morning Sentinel Girls Soccer Player of the Year.
Also considered for the award were Waterville senior Eileen Dunn, Winslow sophomore Brittany Morin, and Mt. Blue senior Emma Carlson.
"It didn't matter who we were playing against we always knew we had Carmen and we would be in the game," said Skowhegan coach Scott Pillsbury. "Against a better team she would stop at least one sure goal a game, a shot that the other team would already be celebrating on."
Ballard's skills didn't stop at the defensive end of the field either. Her quickness and dynamic saves often resulted in counter attacks that produced scoring opportunities. On one occasion this season, Ballard recorded an assist after unleashing a punt that led to a goal.
"Carmen has been assisting the offense for many games," said Pillsbury. "She has great punts and strategic throws."
The key part of Ballard's game, however, comes from her ability to make dazzling saves that appear to be spur-of-the-moment efforts, but actually come from preparation and study. An important piece of playing in the net, she learned from sister Keri, was to scout the opponent, know their moves and be ready.
"My sister was very smart on the field and she helped me with everything," said Carmen. "I learned how to scout other players and how they played, so that I could anticipate their moves."
An all-around athlete, Ballard also plays basketball and softball at Skowhegan. She always looks forward to the games against higher ranked teams, especially in soccer where her play can make the difference on the scoreboard.
"I get pumped for the bigger games against better teams," she said. "Coach Pillsbury would tell me the game would depend on me.
"I liked the pressure. When people expect us to lose I want to prove them wrong."