3 Lady Rams players sign scholarship letters of intent to play in college

On March 31, friends, family and teammates gathered at Maricopa High for a teary-eyed ceremony as three varsity Lady Rams soccer players signed their national letters of intent to play at the next level. 

Kennedy Coles, Ashley Macedo and Alyssa DeMascio received college scholarship offers. 

In a few months, Coles is taking her talent to Mississippi Valley State, an NCAA Division 1 school.  

Coles is a recent addition to the girls’ team. She transferred to MHS from Columbus, Ohio, at the beginning of her senior year, but quickly proved her strength as a defender and forward. 

“Kennedy was just a gift,” assistant coach Aaron Etzel said. “We don’t expect, in Maricopa, to get a player of this caliber.”  

From switching schools to tearing her ACL, Coles has shown incredible resilience as an athlete.  

“From a young age I knew that I wanted to play college soccer,” she said.  

Macedo and DeMascio have been stars on the team for four years. They have been trained by assistant coach Mike Hacker since they were kids, and he said it’s exciting to send them off to college. 

Macedo, the Rams midfielder, is heading to Union University, an NCAA Division II private school in Tennesse this August. 

From visiting college campuses to building relationships with new coaches, Macedo said the recruitment process was tough. But she always had her eyes on the future. 

“It was definitely worth it,” Macadeo said. “And I’m hoping that the school I chose will be worth it as well.” 

Etzel described Macedo as a technical player, with quick feet and a high IQ of the game.  

“We called her the laboratory player because she could do all these moves,” Etzel said.  

Ram-turned-Bulldog, DeMascio will be furthering her athletic and academic career at Union College in Barbourville, Ky. 

She has been a versatile player for the Rams, seeing time as a keeper and playing the field. 

“I didn’t think I was actually going to play college soccer,” DeMascio said. “I’ve been on and off the team with injuries and everything with COVID…it was a lot.” 

She initially considered Northern Arizona University and a local community college, but when the opportunity came to play with Bulldogs, her excitement grew.  

“(I’ve been) playing a sport since I was 4,” DeMascio said. “And to continue playing it when I’m an adult is an amazing opportunity.” 

The three girls thanked the audience for their support and ended the ceremony with hugs and photos.  

“We’ve all worked really hard to get where we are right now,” Macadeo said. “These past four years have been the most influential parts of our lives.”