Lake Forest's McGowan Commits to Notre Dame

defender Ginny McGowan has made an early commitment to play women's soccer for 2010 national champion Notre Dame starting in 2014.

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The Lake Forest native has been a fixture for U.S. Soccer's under-15 Girls' National Team through various camps in Carson, Calif., and Sunrise, Fla. McGowan, who plays for Eclipse Select Soccer Club locally, was anticipating an extensive college search, but she quickly knew that Notre Dame had everything she wanted.

"I never really planned on committing early -- I just wanted to start visiting schools and get all the facts," McGowan said. "My dad went to Notre Dame, so I grew up on campus there. I could have waited longer, but I felt that I didn't need to do that. It's the right fit for me, closer to home and has a really good combination of academics and soccer."

McGowan visited Virginia and Duke, and also had her sights on Stanford and North Carolina but did not visit those two schools' campuses.

McGowan likes the way the team is shaping up when she joins in 2014.

"They have a lot of good recruits next year -- the top recruiting freshman class next year," McGowan said. "When I get there they'll be juniors. I've been in contact with some of the girls, and a couple have been with the U-17s."

Notre Dame head coach Randy Waldrum has regularly turned to Eclipse Select and club president Rory Dames for talent. The recently-named U-23 Women's National Team head coach is well connected throughout the soccer community, and McGowan acknowledges the benefits.

"Randy respects Rory a lot, and there have been over 10 Eclipse players who have gone there," McGowan said. "Randy knows we'll be college ready when we get there. He really emphasizes academics. He gets his players on a plan and gets everybody on the right track. He's a really good coach, and with him being the U-23 National Team head coach, if I want to stay on the National Team track, my training's in the right hands."

McGowan tried out a year ago with Eclipse Select and started competing for the club in August of 2011.

"It's been great," McGowan said. "I love the team, and it's just family-emphasized. I love everything about it. There is a good support system and the coaches give you everything you need to push yourself to be the best. It's a great training environment, and I like that."

McGowan currently played for Eclipse Select's U-16 Elite Clubs National League team, where Dames is her head coach.

"A lot of things that Rory throws out there are really powerful," McGowan said. "Training and mentality are huge -- Rory really emphasizes that. We focus on pushing ourselves in everything we do. You realize that you always need to play at a high standard."

Information courtesy of Eclipse Select Soccer Club