Jesse Fitzgerald shows the value of playing high school soccer

Sherman Oaks Notre Dame Coach Patrick Thomsen and lots of other soccer coaches will always appreciate the dedication and contributions made this season by Notre Dame senior Jesse Fitzgerald.

It’s pretty clear how much respect he has earned. He’s the player who refused to leave his high school team to play for a club team during the high school season even though he certainly had the talent.

Instead, he stuck it out with his teammates and classmates and ended up scoring 29 goals, being named Mission League player of the year in a league that featured Division 1 champion Loyola and earning All-CIF honors.

“He’s just a good kid,” Thomsen said.

Yes, it’s about time we salute “a good kid” for putting team ahead of indivdual glory.

Now he’s off to the University of Washington and maybe we’ll get to see him play professionally one day. He’s going to have lots of fans rooting for him.

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