By JOE SCALZO

By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
typical week for Poland's Colleen Moran this fall looked like this:
Monday through Thursday: School (7 a.m. to 3 p.m.), soccer practice (3:30 to 5:30, unless she has a game), cross country practice (5:30 to 6:30, unless she has a meet), homework (6:30 to whenever) and after all that, free time.
Just kidding. She doesn't have any free time.
On Fridays, she replaces soccer and cross country practice with band practice before that night's football game. Saturdays are reserved for cross country meets and soccer games. And Sundays? Well, those are for making up for all the miles she couldn't run during regular cross country practice hours.
"Usually, I'm pretty tired," said Moran, a junior at Poland High. "But my coaches have been really supportive and really flexible, so that helps a lot."
It also helps that she's good at both sports.
Last Saturday, Moran qualified for the Division II state cross country meet. A few hours later, she helped the Bulldogs win the Div. II district soccer championship.
Not a bad day's work.
"When it was over, I had a really big sense of relief," Moran said. "I was really happy with how everything worked out."
Balancing act
Wednesday at 7 p.m., she'll help lead Poland against Chagrin Falls in a regional semifinal soccer game at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy.
"She is definitely a vital player," said Poland coach Jim Sutman. "She's a center-midfielder, which is a job with a lot of responsibility. She's like a point guard out there."
While Moran plays some forward, she's usually more of a defensive specialist, often matching up with the opponents' best player.
"Obviously, with her running background, she's not going to get tired out," Sutman said. "She's got amazing stamina and she sets such a great example for the other players."
While it's certainly not unprecedented to play two sports -- several of Sutman's players also play tennis -- it is unusual to be so good at both of them.
And did we mention that she's also an honors student?
"Study halls are very helpful," she said with a laugh. "I always find time for homework. I usually just set aside time at night."
Moran, who is also a standout distance runner in track, placed 20th at the regional cross country meet to become the first Poland girl to qualify for the state meet in five years.
"I like both sports," Moran said. "I can't decide. I can't choose one over the other."
Looking ahead
She gave up basketball this year to focus on running, which is what she'll likely do in college.
"There's more opportunity in running," she said. "To play soccer at the college level, you pretty much have to play club soccer year round."
That she doesn't focus solely on soccer doesn't bother Sutman.
"I think it would be a little hypocritical, since I'm always telling the girls to stay in great shape and run in the off-season," Sutman said. "And she's such a hard worker. She really gives 100 percent to both sports."
Poland dropped down to Div. II in soccer this year, which means it will get to avoid playing state-power Walsh Jesuit, which is still Div. I this year. If the Bulldogs play their best, they have a good chance of beating Chagrin Falls.
"In the early '90s, we were just looking to be respectable when we got to this level," Sutman said. "Now we're definitely hoping to win. We're pretty evenly matched."
If they win, Poland will play in the regional final on Saturday night, which means Moran will have to drive straight from Columbus to CVCA.
But she won't have to worry about playing in the band on Friday. The Bulldogs did not make the playoffs in football, which was fine with her.
"It definitely makes my life easier," Moran said with a laugh.
scalzo@vindy.com