She may have already started her final season at Brandon, but Jackie Back knows she will be playing soccer at the next level next year.
Surrounded by family, friends, and teammates, Back, a senior on the Blackhawks? varsity girls soccer team, signed a letter of intent to play women’s soccer at Ferris State University next season during a ceremony April 7 in the Brandon High School.
Despite the fact several other schools were recruiting Back for their women’s soccer programs, she said academics played a key role in her choosing Ferris. Back has been accepted into the Honors Program at Ferris.
‘It has the major I wanted, which is pharmacy,? she said. ‘After looking into it further, I think it will work out well.?
Last year, the Bulldogs went 9-9-1 overall and 3-5-0 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). Ferris is coached by Melissa Lalonde, who came aboard as the Bulldogs? head coach in 2003.
Jackie’s father and coach, Greg Back, said Jackie, who has been on the Brandon varsity since her freshman year, also considered offers from Madonna University and Central Michigan University.
However, he concurred with his daughter by saying Ferris had the type of academic program she was looking for.
Greg Back said Jackie has played every position on the field for the Blackhawks, including goalie, and expects Ferris will utilize her in much the same capacity.
‘Probably in college, she’ll be a defensive stopper, but they expect her to help wherever she’s needed,? he said.