STARKVILLE There was just one thing missing when Skyler Miller went to sign her ceremonial letter of intent to play soccer at East Central Community College.
“I don’t have a pen,” she said, laughing.
The paperwork already sent, Miller took the pen and signed for the cameras Monday in Starkville High School’s library, her ticket punched to college soccer.
Miller said she found both the school and the Warriors’ women’s soccer coach to be good fits.0
“I met their coach through my club practice,” she said of Ryan Joiner, ECCC’s fourth-year coach. “He saw me and was like, I want you on my team. He does everything for the team. I want someone who can help me through all aspects of college.”
Not that Miller will need too much help. Her high school coach, Rafa Costa, has been with the Yellow Jackets for just four months and already knows his left back is special.
“She’s the reason the program is where it is,” Costa said. “I’m hoping her leadership skills are going to rub off on the younger girls.”
Right now they have to rub off from the sidelines, Miller explained.
“I tore my right labrum and had surgery about a month ago,” she said. “Hopefully getting back within the next few weeks. I didn’t have pain since my surgery date, so I have full range of motion, and everything is going great.”
Still, Costa is not going to take any risks with her.
“We’re going to take things a little slowly, because obviously the priority right now is East Central,” he said. “Hopefully, she’ll be ready before the end of the season, especially for senior day.”
But if she’s not ready to be on the field, she’s certainly still there on the sidelines, offering encouragement and passing along bits of wisdom.
“You’ll notice, probably tonight if you see her out on the field, she’ll be right there next to me,” Costa said.
But that’s not where Miller has spent so much time over the years.
“I’ve played left back for about five years now,” she said. “I started out at left wing, but they decided since I had such a strong left foot that it needed to be farther back.”
Certainly her present and future coaches agree.
“I will be competing for a left back-slash-center back position,” Miller said. “I can play anywhere, I just prefer to be on the outside and have more space around me.“
Joiner has had three consecutive winning seasons since a 5-11 record during his first year with the Warriors in 2018, including an 11-3-2 mark in 2020 which was the best in program history.
“I’m just thankful to have this chance to move up,” Miller said.
Added Costa: “She’s been a privilege to have around.”
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