Bogalusa resident and Pope John Paul II soccer player Kylie Nielsen was recently selected as a Louisiana High School Soccer Coaches Association Division IV freshman first-team all-state player.
“It was a big accomplishment, especially for not having ever played club or real soccer before last year,” Nielsen said. “My coach (Meaux Homburg), when she called me on Thursday (March 29), I didn’t realize she had nominated me and it was a big rush of emotions.”
Nielsen, who is a first-team all-district player in 5-IV, said she stayed after practice a lot to work on her technique.
“My coach always tells me to be more aggressive and more confident on the field,” Nielsen said. “I started working with a couple of my friends — Olivia Johnson and McAllister Wadleigh. Olivia taught me how to play the game and how to know when to do things on the field. McAllister and I worked together to get better and improve each other. It was a really good season for my coach’s first year. We won district and most of our starters got nominated for all-district.”
Nielsen plays centerback, which is a defensive position. This season, she started every game for the Lady Jaguars and was part of their regional round team. Nielsen tallied one goal for Pope John Paul II.
Homburg, who was the District 5-IV Coach of the Year, said Nielsen is definitely an impact player.
“She works hard not only at practice, but in her spare time. She’s a player that continually asks, ‘coach, what can I do to get better?’ And it shows in her play,” Homburg said. “It makes her one of those players that continues to develop. She’s always ‘team’ before ‘I.’ She’s a great kid.”
Nielsen is joined on the team by Evangel’s Caitlin Cantrell, Ascension Episcopal’s Anna Kathryn Charbonnet and Faith Wilson, Loyola Prep teammates Faith Davis and Hope Davis, Episcopal School of Acadiana teammates Claire Dolan, Aline Malek and Aren Frantzen, St. Frederick’s Skylar Donald, and Metairie Park Country Day’s Adelaide Gaines and Elizebeth Rogers.