Pace duo kick way into Wednesday's excitement

National signing day is for football, but it just depends on your term for the game that mattered Wednesday afternoon at Independence Hall in Pace High School.

Jessica Oram and Alex Pickrell both took the opportunity to sign national letters of intent to further their soccer careers, which came to a much sooner end than both expected.

Oram will continue on next season for the University of South Alabama, while her friend and fellow Patriot Pickrell will travel across the Causeway to play at the University of West Florida.

For Oram, this is an opportunity she has wanted.

“I verbally committed to South Alabama the spring of my junior year,” Oram said. “I did it because it was the best opportunity for me and not that far away.

“Plus I have always wanted to play Division I soccer.”

Oram is looking forward to the chance to play in Mobile and is excited about her future teammate, Clarissa Hernandez, who signed Friday at Washington High.

“I like the idea of some familiarity this offers,” Oram said. “Clarissa and I played select ball together plus we will be roommates.”

While Oram is familiar with her teammates, Pickrell knows her new coach very well and is ready to go to work.

The fact she is going to play for West Florida, who spent most of the 2009 Division II soccer season ranked No. 1 does not intimidate Pickrell one bit.

“I an ready to learn from them,” Pickrell said. “What better way to learn what it will take to play at the college level than to learn from the girls who have been there.

“I am looking forward to this opportunity and learn what they have to offer.”

Another person who could help this transition is UWF coach Joe Bartilinski.

“I have known Coach Joe since I was 11,” Pickrell said. “I think that is one thing that really influenced me.

“I have been to every camp and despite looking around at other schools I knew he was interested in me playing for him at UWF.”

While Pickrell, who scored the winning shootout goal against Navarre to give Pace its first girls district soccer title in 12 years, has made her choice, she doesn’t believe many take UWF for real.

“I don’t believe the people give UWF enough credit when it comes to academics or athletics,” Pickrell said. “I have an idea what to expect in the classroom as my sister Nicole graduated from UWF.

“I am ready to become an Argo.”

For Pace girls soccer coach Joey Godwin this was a day he expected, but he knows what they have done to help the Lady Patriots program.

“Both Jess and Alex have done a great job here at Pace,” Godwin said. “And from what I have watched them do here with our program I am sure they will do the same thing at their colleges.

“Both girls have dedicated themselves to the game and are enjoying the success of their hard work today.”