Croatan’s Straub seals college decision by signing with Meredith

“I was going to the school anyway, and then coach Slater reached out to me and asked if I wanted to play soccer anywhere,” Straub said. “I hadn’t really been talking to anyone because I need to focus on academics, but then (Meredith) coach Paul (Smith) came out to one of our games and spoke with me. He watched me play and then offered me a spot.”

Straub added, “I knew in the back of my mind that I wanted to play club soccer during school, but to be able to play for the school is awesome.”

Straub is joining a Meredith squad that finished the 2017 season 14-5 overall and 6-1 in the USA South Athletic Conference. The Avenging Angels program has gone 64-26-8 (.693) over the last five years with a 45-8-3 (.830) record in conference play.

She leaves a Croatan program that has also seen success in her four years. The Cougars, who are 7-4-2 overall and 4-3 in the 1A/2A Coastal 8 Conference so far this season, went 36-24-7 (.589) overall and 21-7-2 (.733) in the 2A East Central Conference between 2015 and 2017.

Slater, who has coached Straub for four years, spotlighted the midfielder’s versatility as a critical trait for the next level.

“Hunter is a very dedicated player. She can use both feet and she’s very coachable, so when we need to change something on the fly, we can do that. Those are the little things that are going to help her excel and get on the field quickly at the next level.”

Straub, who is being looked at by Meredith as a midfielder, has also played a variety of spots in her four years with the squad.

“Because she is diverse, she is able to play wherever they need her,” Slater said. “Her freshman year here, we played her at midfield, and last year, we played her a little at left back, forward and midfield. She has the ability to play pretty much everywhere.”

Straub, whose impact is felt most in the midfield, has one goal and an assist so far this season. She had three goals and two assists as a junior and one goal as a freshman.

Straub is also this season’s lone captain for the Cougars, a pivotal position on a squad led largely by underclassmen.

“She does a good job with the younger kids,” Slater said. “They all come and talk to her when they have a problem. She’s done very well as a leader.”

Straub recognized her duty as a captain but acknowledged how easy it came due to the particularly potent chemistry the squad has exhibited this season.  

“It has been an experience,” Straub said. “It has taught me a lot about patience and diplomacy. I’ve grown up with a lot of these girls, and I think the bond we have as a team is special. It’s not just a sport friendship between us, we hang out off the field too. We still have a lot more to come. I feel like we’re really gelling this year, and with the talent we have, we could go very far.”

Straub also brings to Meredith a high efficiency in academics. She currently has a 4.39 GPA at Croatan and plans on majoring in biology in college.

“We’re both excited and nervous for her,” Straub’s father, Duane, said. “We’re behind her decision to attend Meredith 100 percent. Croatan has really helped prepare her. It’s a great school in general, in sports and academics.”

Straub’s parents also made mention of the Croatan coach’s role in her roster spot.

“We can’t thank Slater enough for opening the door for Hunter and asking the question,” Straub’s mother, Wanda, said. “We really appreciate that.”

In addition to having family come and see her play, Straub will see a familiar face on the team next fall. Her cousin, Morgan Tingen, a senior at D.H. Conley, has also signed to play soccer at Meredith.

As for when her parents will be able to visit, they already have a plan.

“We’ll be at every game we can possibly attend,” her father said, to which her mother added, “We’ve already mapped the whole year’s schedule out.”