Jordan Pellerin knew what was coming. Even so, the Waterville Senior High School graduate found the life of a Division I college athlete a shock at first
“This whole college thing is a big adjustment,” Pellerin said. “The first week of preseason, it was all sleep, eat, soccer, soccer, eat, sleep. It was overwhelming.”
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Now a couple of months into her college soccer career, Pellerin is getting used to the demands on her time, both on the field and in the classroom. One of the most prolific scorers in Maine high school soccer history, Pellerin has settled into a role on the Black Bears’ front line.
“I’m very pleased with her progress and how quickly she’s made the transition to Division I athletics,” Maine women’s soccer coach Scott Atherley said. “She’s kind of exceeded my expectations.”
Maine is 4-6-1, 1-3-0 in America East Conference play. Maine plays on Thursday at Hartford in a key conference game. Pellerin has played in all 11 of Maine’s games, starting two, and has three assists. Pellerin assisted on Maine’s only goal in a 3-1 loss at Vermont last week and took two of the Black Bears’ 11 shots.
Every player has an adjustment period, Atherley said, and Pellerin’s has been quick.
“All of the factors, being away from home, a new coach, new teammates, a new lifestyle, all of those influence how you do on the field,” Atherley said. “She’s improved steadily. (At Vermont and home against Boston University), Jordan played 80 minutes of 90 and played her best two games.”
As a senior at Waterville last year, Pellerin scored 39 goals. She finished her high school career with 171 goals.
“At the high school level and club level, she could do pretty much whatever she wanted,” Atherley said. “Now she’s learning there’s a time and a place. Her natural instincts are great.”
Pellerin scored her first collegiate point with an assist in a 4-3 loss at Sacred Heart on Sept. 2. That was a confidence boost.
“I was like, ‘I can do this,’ ” she said.
In the short time she has played college soccer, Pellerin has noticed a change in herself.
“I’m definitely faster and stronger,” Pellerin said. “The game is a lot more physical, and it’s a lot faster.”
A couple of games into the season, Atherley moved Pellerin to the top of the Black Bears’ attack.
“She likes to run and get into spaces, and putting her closer to the goal helps her do that,” Atherley said.
The Black Bears’ win over Maryland-Baltimore County on Sunday moved them into seventh in the America East standings. The top six teams will play in the conference tournament. With four conference games to play, the Black Bears have a chance to reach the America East tournament for the ninth consecutive year.
“We’re a really good team, there’s just something we haven’t found,” Pellerin said. “We’re the underdogs right now.”
Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242
tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com
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