Former player now women's soccer assistant coach
Heather Foster, '11 | Staff Reporter
Issue date: 9/11/09 Section: Sports
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Overend graduated high school in 2001 from Cazenovia. While at Cazenovia, she started playing soccer in the eighth grade. She continued with soccer all through high school until her senior year.
In 2002 Overend started at Morrisville State College, where she participated in women's soccer for two years before moving on to employment at Olympia Sports as the guest assistant and cashier until 2006.
While at Morrisville, she earned recognition for 2nd team all-star in 2002, and 1st team all-star in 2003.
In Nov. of 2006, Overend left Olympia Sports to be employed with Turning Stone Resort Casino at the hotel front desk. She worked at the front desk for less than a year before moving to Upstate Cerebral Palsy where she currently works as the residential counselor.
"I actually came back to Morrisville with a health field interest," said Overend. "I never expected to coach. When I got here, Greg Carroll offered me this opportunity, which was funny because he was actually my athletic director in high school."
She said she sees so many "familiar faces" here at Morrisville State. "I know so many people from Cazenovia. Greg Carroll, Jeremy Cook, Brian Ellithorpe, I know them all from growing up in Cazenovia."
Overend said she really enjoyed playing soccer, but the sidelines are where she is staying for now.
"After I got the job, coach said to me, 'You realize you still have two years of eligibility, right?' But I just can't play."
Overend said due to a foot injury, she is not using her eligibility to participate in women's soccer at Morrisville State.
Although talent is always welcome to the field, the unexpected assistant coach is just what Morrisville needed this season, said Kelly Beckley, a senior captain on the Morrisville State College women's soccer team.
"There are more girls playing this year than in the past. We have a lot of talent on the team this season and it's good to have more help to bring it all together on the field," said Beckley.
The women's soccer team has a total of 19 players this season, nine of them being freshman players.
As the assistant coach, Overend is doing a great job, according to her players.
"So far, she really seems like she knows how to help us," said Beckley. "She gives us a lot of tips that are good to hear coming from someone who has played as a Mustang."
Newcomer to the soccer field Amber Monroe agrees with Beckley. "She knows what she's doing; there's no question about that," said Monroe.
Overend and Perkins coached the team into its first victory since 2006 on Wednesday, Sept. 9, shutting out Southern Vermont College by a final score of 3-0. The team looks forward to more wins this season with the coach Perkins and assistant coach Overend.