Western
Nebraska Community College men’s soccer player Daniel Agnew’s sophomore season
was confined to rehabilitating his torn ACL. It was not something he wanted to
endure after having an outstanding freshman season in 2012.
Now,
after sitting out last season because of the ACL injury, Agnew is ready to take
his game to the next level. Agnew inked Thursday with Ashford University out of
Clinton, Iowa, a NAIA institution that has a well-established soccer program
that finished last season at 16-4-2 and competed at the national tournament.
WNCC
coach Todd Rasnic said Ashford is a program that is a good fit for Agnew, whose
passion for soccer runs deep.
“We
think Dan will be a great asset to Ashford University,” Rasnic said. “Their
program is a very strong NAIA program and I think he will go there and
contribute. They have made a few appearances in the national tournament the
last few years. He will fight for every minute he gets on the field. We are
delighted that he is given this opportunity after Western Nebraska.”
Agnew
said he had some options for next year, but he felt Ashford was the right fit
for him both academically and athletically.
“It
was a difficult decision but I thought this was the best offer for me,” he
said. “Coach Richard Markham has a top soccer program there. They went to the
semifinals of nationals last year and it is the right fit for me.”
Rasnic
said even though Agnew couldn’t play because of an ACL injury he suffered in
the team’s first pre-season game, he was an asset to the team with his
leadership.
“We
will miss Dan next year. He has been a team leader for us through a couple
tough years,” Rasnic said. “He has demonstrated with good character and
leadership that he is a player that certainly deserves the right to play at the
next level. Academically he is outstanding.”
Agnew,
who come to the states from Bellymena, Ireland, said he has adapted well to
American soccer.
“It
was a big step in coming here to play at Western Nebraska and it is an even
bigger step moving on and I am looking forward to the next step,” he said. “I
played at a high level back home so this will be good for me when I go to
Ashford because I get to play with a lot of international players at a top
level. I will be pushing on with my soccer and I will see where soccer takes
me.”
But,
for Agnew, last season was a nightmare where he had to sit and watch has his
team struggled through a difficult year. And that was all after Agnew was one
of the top defenders in Region IX his freshman year.
“My
freshman year I did well, but unfortunately in my first game of the season I
tore my ACL,” he said. “I am looking at this signing in two ways. I know I have
three years of eligibility and that is a plus, but obviously it would have been
nice to play this year.”
Agnew
said his recovery from the ACL injury is coming along well and hopes to be back
to normal by this summer.
“I
have been out of surgery for four months and I am continuing with rehab,” he
said. “I am hoping to be back to full fitness by this summer and ready for the
preseason at Ashford.”
What
really inspires Agnew to do his best in soccer is his grandpa, Cartney Agnew,
who passed away last summer.
“I
want to say a special thank you to my ‘Papa’ who passed away in the summer,” he
said. “I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for his advice and interest
he took in me when I was at home playing my soccer for Ballymena United
Football Club.”
Agnew
said that after his schooling at Ashford, he is hoping that he can continue his
soccer playing at the next level.
“I
hope to stay in America and see what happens after Ashford,” he said. “Hopefully
I can continue with my soccer and continue growing as a player.”
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