ODP Graduate Kayla Saager to Play Pro Soccer in the Czech Republic
New York Soccer News: Kayla used her success at Binghamton to score a pro contract
Kayla Saager led Binghamton University with 11 goals last year and parlayed that success with the Bearcats to her first professional contract, signing recently with 1. FC Slovacko of the Czech Republic.
Jim Volpe coached Kayla for two years in the Olympic Development Program (ODP) of the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) and stated, “Kayla is a devastating striker who can score with both feet at a moment’s notice. She is a game-changer.”
The East Islip resident played club soccer in the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) for the East Islip and Albertson clubs. She also played the past two summers for the Long Island Rough Riders of United Women’s Soccer, scoring six goals in 2018 and four goals this past summer. Additionally, she led the East Region ODP Team to the International Kuban Spring Championship in Sochi, Russia six years ago.
Coach Volpe added, “Kayla started at North Carolina State, then played at West Virginia University before she became very happy playing at Binghamton. It goes to show that there is no perfect school but there is one that is perfect for you.”
Kayla tweeted, “I’m so excited to get started on my professional career. Many thanks to my amazing coaches and teammates at Binghamton, who prepared me for this moment. Once a Bearcat…always a Bearcat!”
Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association: With 100,000 youth soccer players–both boys and girls–and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) reaches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with nine leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. ENYYSA exists to promote and enhance the game of soccer for children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 19 years old and to encourage the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees, and administrators.
