Healthy Cooper set for big year

YOUNGSTOWN — A year ago, as a true freshman, Kara Cooper played in 19 games for the Youngstown State soccer team, but she was never 100 percent healthy in any of them.

Cooper, an All-State standout at Youngstown Christian School, is 100 percent healthy this season and the Penguins are taking full advantage of her presence on the field.

The 5-foot-6 sophomore forward has already scored five goals and added two assists and the Penguins are 2-1-1 on the year and over the .500 mark for the first time in a long time.

Cooper was recruited her senior season by former YSU coach Anthony Jones. She accepted a scholarship and then blew out her knee right after, but the Penguins still wanted her.

“It was probably one of the reasons that I came here,” she said. “Coach James said that they still wanted me even though there was a possibility I might not play my first year.”

But Cooper did play and in all 19 games before an hamstring injury kept her out of the final contest.

“But I was never 100 percent healthy,” she added. “When I look back it would have been much smarter to have redshirted last season.”

James is now gone and Will Lemke has taken over the head coaching duties and Cooper feels that he’s brought a lot to the program.

“The big difference this season is that we are winning those close games that a year ago we were losing,” she added. “There was a time when this team would get blown away by an opponent almost every game, but that’s not the case any more.”

Cooper said a good example was in the Penguins’ last victory, a 2-1 overtime win in which Cooper scored the winning goal with just one second left in the overtime period.

“That was a game we would have lost a year ago,” she said.

Cooper likes the makeup of this year’s team and the new players in the program.

“Of our 11 starters, three are freshmen and they are good ones,” she added. “Coach also brought in a new system, which at first we were a little scared to use, but we are becoming more comfortable with it.”

Cooper enjoys playing in her hometown.

“It’s nice to be able to have your family so close and be able to come and watch you play,” she said.

Cooper had an outstanding career at Youngstown Christian, where she was a four-time team most valuable player and still holds all of the school’s scoring records.

She was voted to the all-state team her senior season and scored 139 goals in her career.

The Penguins’ next game is Sunday at 2 p.m., when they play to Kent State at Stambaugh Stadium.

mollica@vindy.com

YSU SOCCER

Kara Cooper

Class: Sophomore

Position: Forward

Hometown: Youngstown

High School: Youngstown Christian

2008: Played in a total of 19 games, starting four times against Detroit, Butler, Wright State and Cleveland State. She scored her first career goal in an 8-0 shutout win over Wheeling Jesuit. She total a total of seven shots, including three on goal.

High School: Was a four-time MVP at Youngstown Christian. Holds all of the school’s scoring records and was a two-time All-Conference selection. In her senior season she was voted Ohio All-State. She compiled a total of 139 goals in her four years of high school. She also participated in basketball and cheerleading.

Personal: Parents are Larry and Arlene Cooper. She has a brother (Kory) and a sister (Krisi). Her major is exercise science. She was born Sept. 5, 1989. She’s a recipient of the John Kerola Scholarship.