Friday, January 20, 2023

Windham’s Elizabeth Talbot to play college soccer at Franklin Pierce University

By Matt Pascarella

As soon as Windham senior Elizabeth Talbot began playing soccer at the age of 3, she fell in love with the sport. As she got older, it was a dream of hers to play at the collegiate level and her hard work and dedication have paid off because on Friday, Jan. 13, in front of teachers, coaches, friends and teammates, Talbot signed a national letter of intent at Windham High School to compete for Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire.

Sylvia Talbot, left, along with Emily Talbot and Joe Talbot as
Windham High senior Elizabeth Talbot signs a Letter of Intent
to play college soccer at Franklin Pierce University in New
Hampshire on Jan. 13 at Windham High School.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA 
Talbot will play for Franklin Pierce’s womens’ soccer team and major in health sciences where she plans to be a physical therapist.

“It’s fun to coach someone like Liz because she is really a student of the game,” said Windham varsity girls’ assistant soccer coach Jim Stewart. “She is very thoughtful, you can see her thinking about how the game is developing, she’s looking at the way it’s happening, she’s finding a solution ... to the problem on the field. It’s amazing how she can do that without saying anything – she runs to the right spot, she makes the right pass, she starts to solve the problem in her play, and it just breaks the other team down. It’s so cool to watch.”

Stewart said Talbot will bring consistency and hard work and be a great teammate at Franklin Pierce University. She will be someone who will bring something that will show the team in the long run the game can be played at a different level.

“She was a great teammate,” said Windham junior Alejandra Hidell. “She always motivated others and gave good advice; she was always supportive and congratulating everyone. She was just a sweet player overall and I was so lucky to get to play with her.”

It felt great for Talbot to sign her letter of intent. She is really excited for this next step in her life. She’s had a lot of great opportunities with high school and club soccer; her teammates have helped her to get where she is today.

It has taken her a lot of time and sacrifice and putting in the extra work to reach this point in her athletic career.

Windham varsity girls’ soccer head coach Deb Lebel said Talbot was a big part of the reason the team

went 19-0 last year and won a state championship. Franklin Pierce University is exceedingly lucky to be getting her as an athlete, but also as a student.

Talbot is an unselfish player who wanted to see her friends and teammates succeed as well.

She has received a few awards in her time playing for Windham High School. She was named to the Southern Maine Activities Association midfielder team as a junior and senior and also received Windham High School’s “Spirit of the Game” award her senior year from Coach Stewart. This award was given to the player who shows up to practice every day ready to work hard and be a good role model and always does what’s best for the team.

“I feel really great to be recognized by other teams and coaches as well as my high school team,” said Talbot. “Soccer has always just been a really big, important factor in my life, and I don't know what I would do without it.”

To underclassmen who would someday like to get to achieve what Talbot has achieved, her advice is to work hard and keep pushing yourself. If people try to bring you down, stay positive.

Talbot would like to thank her family, Coach Stewart, Coach Lebel, Coach Chris Aube, all her teammates, her Seacoast Soccer Coach Chris Scott and everyone who supported her to help her attain her goal to play collegiate soccer. <

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