Coaching his daughter’s club team six years ago, Hopewell Valley Central High girls’ soccer coach John McGinley was impressed with an opponent during one game, and was then excited to learn that she lived in the Hopewell school district.
Today that player, Katarina Nilsson, is a senior at CHS, and earlier this year, she became the school’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing Stephanie Peters, who played for former coach Jim Loper from 1996-99.
“I remember going to talk to him after the game,” Nilsson, said. “He said he wanted to speak to me, we shook hands and he said a few words. I remember that a lot.”
So does McGinley.
“She was a good player then,” the coach said. “But I didn’t foresee her being this good.”
Now a senior, Nilsson had 28 goals and 17 assists for a Bulldogs team that was 18-1-1 and the top seed in the Mercer County Tournament. They beat Notre Dame 2-1 on Oct. 24. The final was scheduled for Oct. 27 against Princeton Day School, after our deadline.
As of Oct. 17, HoVal was the leader in North Jersey Section 2 Group III power points, while Nilsson led the Colonial Valley Conference in scoring and was tied for 10th in the state in goals and tied for 9th in assists.
For her career, Nilsson has 81 goals and 39 assists, and her goal output is the most of any player since McGinley started with the program in the late 1990’s.
“She’s just gotten better and better and better,” he said. “A lot of times kids come in their freshman year and have a good season and you say ‘OK, they’ll get even better,’ and they don’t. Kat’s just gotten better and better.”
Nilsson had seven goals and two assists as a freshman, 17 and five as a sophomore and 29 and 15 last year. The coach attributes that steady improvement to a strong work ethic.
“One of her best qualities overall is just how hard she works,” McGinley said. “Sometimes you see a great player, and you think ‘Oh, they’re blessed with a lot of abilities and it just comes easy to them.’ She has a lot of athletic ability and talent but she’s just worked so hard.”
It’s interesting to note, however, that what McGinley calls work, Nilsson calls play.
“I think I just really enjoy playing soccer,” she said. “As the years went on, I think I became a better player, through practices and club team and my high school program. It made me a better player and made it easier for me to score goals and play offense … I really enjoy scoring and assisting and helping out the team any way possible.”
Nilsson has gotten ample experience by playing with and against top-flight competition. She has been a member of the FC Copa club since its founding, when she was in fifth grade. Last summer they got to two national tournaments. They reached the finals of one and lost the game on penalty kicks.
Two summers ago, the same team also beat them in the national finals. This year they qualified for nationals and also won the New Jersey State Cup for the second straight year.
“Playing in those events really helped me become the player I am today,” said Nilsson, who also honed her skills by attending the Total Soccer clinics in Lambertville.
Like all great goal getters, Nilsson combines a hunger to score with a variety of skills. When in the box, she possesses a strength that makes it tough to get the ball from her. If a defender tries to get physical, she can roll off them. If they try to slack off, she’ll unleash a powerful shot. Her composure allows her to slot easy chances rather than rush a shot that may go wide.
Most importantly, a goalie always feels pressure when she is nearby, as her delivery is always accurate.
“Ninety percent of her shots are on frame,” McGinley said. “You see kid who will crank it 20 yards over the goal, but 90 percent of her shots are either in the net, a save, or hit the post.”
Once again, Nilsson credits that to just being on the pitch so frequently.
“I don’t even think about it that much, it just kind of happens. It’s a going through the motions kind of thing,” she said.
An observer would say the last thing Nilsson does is go through the motions. She not only worries about her own goals, but also her teammates as well. It’s a gift to have one player post double figures in both goals and assists.
Her ability to distribute has led to big seasons from Julia Obst (12 goals), Julie Cane (10) and Sabrina Schrader (9). Cane also has 10 assists.
“She’s an intelligent kid and she sees the field well,” McGinley said. “She knows that she’s got players on her team, that if she sets them up they’re going to finish.”
Nilsson will take her skills to Northeastern University next season, but first would like to get a high school title first.
“We could just become an amazing team,” she said prior to the MCT. “I think we have a lot of potential this season. I think we can get to (MCT and state) finals and hopefully win it. I’m just hoping we’ll get there.”
If they do, Nilsson will be a big reason why, one way or another.
Hopewell Valley all-time leading girls soccer scorer dribbles up the pitch at West Windsor-Plainsboro North on Oct. 17, 2016. HoVal won, 1-0. (Photo by Suzette J. Lucas.),
