[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/news\/current-students\/white-omae-honored-for-lady-eagle-resurgence\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/news\/current-students\/white-omae-honored-for-lady-eagle-resurgence\/","headline":"White, Omae Honored for Lady Eagle Resurgence","name":"White, Omae Honored for Lady Eagle Resurgence","description":"By Carter Moles Nanako Omae plays midfield for the Faulkner Women’s Soccer team. A resurgence of relevance transpired for the Faulkner women\u2019s soccer team this past fall, seeing a program which has been 37-77-7 since its last winning season in…","datePublished":"2020-05-21","dateModified":"2020-05-21","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/author\/rburylo\/#Person","name":"Rebecca Burylo","url":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/author\/rburylo\/","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/37a0c97fbd1eda89e38697defcaf0573?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/37a0c97fbd1eda89e38697defcaf0573?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Faulkner University","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Official-Horizontal-480x128.png","url":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Official-Horizontal-480x128.png","width":480,"height":128}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_5707.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_5707.jpg","height":1700,"width":2007},"url":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/news\/current-students\/white-omae-honored-for-lady-eagle-resurgence\/","about":["Current Students"],"wordCount":588,"articleBody":"By Carter MolesNanako Omae plays midfield for the Faulkner Women’s Soccer team. A resurgence of relevance transpired for the Faulkner women\u2019s soccer team this past fall, seeing a program which has been 37-77-7 since its last winning season in 2011 conclude the campaign 8-8-1. Leading the charge for Head Coach Pritchard Ndaira are two newcomers who resoundingly introduced themselves to conference prominence — Megan White and Nanako Omae. White, a freshman goalkeeper from San Angelo, Texas, shattered the Lady Eagles\u2019 single-season record for shutouts with eight in her first term between the sticks. This tied the career record for a Faulkner women\u2019s soccer player and garnered her first team All-SSAC honors, marking the first time a Lady Eagle has been listed on the league\u2019s top team since 2011.\u00a0\u201cI was very surprised that I got something letting in [29] goals\u201d White said regarding the postseason accolade. \u201cIt was quite a shock.\u201d\u00a0The 29 goals allowed pales in comparison to the other statistics that leaped off of each match\u2019s box scores, however. The netminder stopped 117 attempts on target while stifling countless other attempts before they transpired into shots for a mind-boggling 80.1 save percentage–also a program record.\u00a0Megan White plays goalkeeper for the Faulkner Women’s Soccer team.\u201cIndividually, I just want to get better. I broke a couple records this year, and I want to break them again. I want the Golden Gloves [award given to best goalkeeper].\u201d\u00a0White attributes her success to her parents dedication to developing her abilities on the field. \u201cLiving in Texas for soccer you have to drive four hours there and back just to play club and high school. My dad was my first coach. He taught me like a baseball player how to judge the ball. If it were not for them, I wouldn\u2019t be playing anywhere.\u201d\tDespite growing up 6,568 miles apart, White and Omae received a similar parental push to be the players they are today. \u201cMy dad was my first coach in elementary school,\u201d Omae said. Her dad held her to high standards even at a young age. \u201cWhen I would mess up, he would make me run.\u201d The training inspired Omae to reach new heights and achieve all she has thus far. \u201cI knew one day, I\u2019m going to make him proud.\u201d\u00a0A quick glance at her inaugural season in Faulkner blue proves that she achieved that goal. Her clinical passing led to 10 assists–tied for top on the team– and scored five goals in her first season in Faulkner blue en route to second team All-SSAC honors. In addition to the attacking prowess, Omae was a defensive force in the center of the park, forcing opposition to rely on creativity to advance the ball past her. Her award signified the first time since 2015 any member of the Faulkner women\u2019s soccer program earned second team recognition. \u201cI was surprised [to be named to the all-conference second team] to be honest, because we did not make the playoffs,\u201d Omae said. The Japanese midfielder aims high for next season. \u201cIt will be my last year so, of course, I want to be on the first team in conference. \u201cAs a team we have to go to nationals,\u201d Omae stated. Since the program\u2019s inception in 2004, the Lady Eagles have reached the national stage just once. The returning players are poised for such a run, proving that history doesn\u2019t define them and they can start a new tradition of national prestige."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"News","item":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Current Students","item":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/news\/\/current-students\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"White, Omae Honored for Lady Eagle Resurgence","item":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/news\/current-students\/white-omae-honored-for-lady-eagle-resurgence\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]