Elise Buckerfield, a senior for the Lady Pacer soccer team, has helped lead the team to a record breaking season. The girls soccer team made history by being the first Hayes soccer team to make it to the district finals during the 2024 tournament.
Buckerfield’s love for the sport started at age four when playing for the local recreation team. By seven, she was playing for the local club soccer team known as the Lady Knights, and then moved into playing on traveling soccer teams that eventually led to the start of her high school soccer career.
“I really loved club soccer, all throughout my youth and then high school started, it was pretty different,” Buckerfield said. “I got to be a freshman on varsity, […]I started 5 games into the season, but we had a really solid defensive line with the upperclassmen. I started as an outside [midfielder], so I didn’t play my true position [defender].”
During Buckerfield’s time playing for the Lady Pacers, she has been a part of three Ohio Capital Conference (OCC) championships. This year she was awarded the honor of being the conference player of the year. That is just one award out of a handful that she has received since the start of her high school career.
“I won Rookie Of The Year and Best Improved my freshman year, which is team voted, and sophomore year I got Honorable Mention all OCC,” Buckerfield said. “Junior year, I got First Team all OCC, Best Defender of the year which is also [a] team voted award, then senior year I got First Team all OCC, and First Team all Central District.”
Not only is Buckerfield an award winning soccer player, but she is a senior captain on the team. With there being younger players on varsity she strives to show the importance of accountability on and off the field.
“I try to be positive but also realistic. Like, ‘yes, you’re doing this wrong, but you can easily fix it. Just don’t get in your head,’” Buckerfield said.
Buckerfield’s talent goes beyond the field and into the classroom, being a participant in academic clubs and activities.
“This year I am a part of the NASA project, which is just 10 weeks long,” Buckerfield said. “I’m also in Global Scholars, which is a three year program […] This year is my third year, so [I] have a take action project. I’m doing an educational presentation about the recycling program here at Hayes, telling people what they can recycle and what they can’t.”
Buckerfield’s last year has been nothing short of great, and she plans to continue her success at Capital University, where she will attend as a student athlete.
“Capital was a great fit for me because it’s close to home, and close to OSU, where I know my friends will be,” Buckerfield said. “It’s a small school, I know I’ll thrive in the environment of a small classroom and the coach is a great guy, I love his coaching style and I can’t wait to play for him.”
Buckerfield said that soccer for her has always been an outlet where she can clear her mind, get out her anger and just play the sport she loves. Soccer has always been there for her and has helped shape her into the person she is today.
“My soccer team has always been like my family so it’s just a great sport and I love the community and just everything that comes with it,” Buckerfield said.
