The Sacred Heart Lady Crusaders soccer program is sending more players to the next level. Seniors Jessica Hyde and Blair Viator inked with Southeastern Louisiana University and Jones College, respectively, Thursday morning, adding to the list of college soccer players to come out of the program in recent years.
“I’m at a loss for words for how excited I am,” Hyde said. “This has always been a dream of mine to play college soccer, and it’s finally official. We had our first game (Tuesday), and I knew I had my signing soon. I had to get everything in order for that, so I could focus on (Thursday’s) game. It’s a relief off my shoulders and I can finally focus on getting through this last year of high school.”
Hyde has been a contributor to the Lady ‘Saders since her seventh-grade year, as she appeared in nine games during the 2013-14 season. In her first five seasons at Sacred Heart, she’s produced 39 goals and 20 assists. Viator has been playing since her eighth-grade year, and she has 22 goals and six assists in those four seasons.
More importantly, Sacred Heart has won four state championships over that time, and it’s primed to add a fifth this season.
For Viator, Thursday was not only a joyous day because she was signing with the Lady Bobcats, but she’s also returning to the pitch after she suffered an ACL injury in January. She had surgery in February and didn’t play in the season opener earlier this week, but she’ll start to come back slowly Thursday night.
“It’s been a lot of work, I’m pushing through and I’m getting back,” she said. “I still have to do a gradual start, but I’m ready for the season.”
Viator will play in the midfield at Jones College, and she’s going from one program that has won three straight state championships to another, as the Jones College girls soccer team has also won three straight MACJC State Championships.
“I’m just really excited to be a Bobcat now and be close to home,” Viator said. “I like the team and I like the atmosphere.”
Hyde has played all over the field for Sacred Heart, but her home in college will be at forward. Lady Crusaders’ coach Joe “Papa” Falla Sr. is known for moving Hyde from defense to midfield to up top throughout the game, as he strategically uses her when a certain situation presents itself.
Southeastern head coach Christopher McBride and Hyde have shared a laugh about the thought of Hyde playing defender once she got to Hammond.
“(Moving positions) definitely made me more rounded,” Hyde said. “Playing at a 1A school, you kind of have to be able to play all the positions because you have no depth. Now I can focus on the one position I think I’m the best at.
“(McBride) does know I play defender in high school, and he thinks it’s a little funny because he couldn’t really picture it. I think he’ll be surprised if I ever go in that position.”
McBride called Hyde during the summer asking if she wanted to come see the campus, and once she visited, it made the decision easy.
“When I went on campus, I just felt like it was where I was supposed to be,” Hyde said. “It was what I was looking for and I just felt like I was at home.”
Sacred Heart’s season is still young, but it’s 1-0 after a win over West Jones on Tuesday. The Lady Crusaders are set to play West Lauderdale Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
