Women’s soccer player serves country, Patriots on the fields of battle

Kelli Hill

While soccer may not be the most welcomed sport in the United States, that does not keep the United States from being the most welcomed thing in a soccer player’s heart. The women UT Tyler Patriots have their own patriotic salute to the US in defensive player Kelli Hill who serves in the Marine Corps while playing soccer for the Patriots.

Hill, a sophomore native from Whitehouse, Texas, missed the first two games of the season while carrying out the last bit of her monthly term for the Corps. While Hill is a defensive standout for the Patriots, she serves in the aviation admin in the Marine Corps.

Her ties to the Marine Corps go family deep, as she explained why she joined the Marine Corps over the other branches of the military. “It might be a silly reason, but I have a brother in the Navy.  With him being in the Navy, I have always wanted to be and do better than him. So I joined the Marines,” said Hill

While the constant competition versus her brother wages on, Kelli also takes advantage of the extensive training she does for the Marines and puts it into action on the soccer pitch. “My training with the Marines helps out a lot, especially in the areas of conditioning and endurance, but it also helps out in some of my leadership qualities.” Hill commented.

Endurance and leadership are not the only areas it is able to help in, as Hill displays an aggressive game. One that was apparent in the Saturday matchup between the UT Tyler Patriots and the Mary-Hardin Baylor Crusaders, in which Hill helped the Patriots edge out a 2-0 win.

Hill made sure that her obligations to her country did not become an excuse or a crutch as she managed to take the change between her two duties in stride. “It didn’t take me that long to adapt to the soccer trainings since I only missed two games. It was a lot better than taking a year and a half off.”

The year and half that Hill refers to is the previous year in which she took a year and a half off to do all her pre requisite training such as her boot camp and her aviation admin training. None of this however, affects the team’s chemistry, as Hill’s teammates are said to be very supportive and understand the obligations that Hill has.

“It doesn’t really affect us, I mean she is a Marine and we know that. It’s who she is. Sometimes we joke about it,” teammate Julie Williams said, and later added, “Plus she does the most awesome push-ups.”

Kelli displays enthusiasm for both of her passions, but even more so, she displays pride in both as well. “I love to play, and plan to play for as long as I can. At the same time I am very proud to serve my country and call myself a Marine. Not many people can say that,” said Hill.

Hill’s contract with the Marine Corps expires in 2015, giving her lots of time to decide whether or not she will stay with the Corps, move to another branch, or just let it end there. As for now, she enjoys being a Patriot, whether it be on or off the fields.

The Patriots are currently 7-3 overall for the 2009 season and 5-1 in American Southwest Conference play. Hill has played 327 minutes so far this season for the Patriots.