A Star Between the Sticks: Piedmont’s Own Miranda McNalley

Trust.

It is one of the most important components to high-level success in team sports and perhaps no other situation is it more integral than between a soccer team and its goalkeeper.

Having someone that is dependable and can even erase mistakes is a huge part of winning games and the Piedmont women’s soccer program is no different.

Miranda McNalley has been the anchor in the Piedmont Lady Lions’ defense since her first career start as a freshman up to the conclusion of her junior year.

She ranks sixth in all of NCAA Division III with a career goals against average of 0.53.

Her career record in goal is 43-12-5. 

She put together an undefeated freshman season and somehow topped it by leading the Lady Lions to a USA South Tournament Championship a year later.

Now with one season left, she wants another run at a conference title and a chance to avenge some losses from a season ago.

However, before looking too far into the future, it is important to look at how and why she has accomplished what she has to this point in her outstanding career.

On the recruiting trail, current women’s soccer Head Coach Timmy McCormack was immediately impressed with what he saw from McNalley.

“When we recruit a goalkeeper, we are looking beyond those who can make spectacular saves to find players who put themselves in a position where making a spectacular save is not as necessary,” McCormack said. “Miranda certainly checked all the boxes.”

For a goalkeeper, shot stopping is what most often come to mind. But what most people don’t realize is the work that goes into every routine save. What looks easy to the eye takes a very calculated series of steps to put oneself in the right position. The mental strength of a goalkeeper will almost certainly be tested and McNalley is quick to credit her teammates and coaches for helping her stay mentally positive and engaged.

As a Lady Lion, the glimpse into the type of player she could become was evident in her first career game. Piedmont opened the 2017 season against Birmingham-Southern.

The Panthers struck first, late in the first half, but McNalley slammed the door shut from that point forward, making six saves as the Lady Lions won late in double overtime.

The win catapulted the team to an undefeated season. Not a bad first trip through the USA South as McNalley was named to the All-USA South West Division Second Team.

Although the team was undefeated, the Lady Lions were knocked out of the USA South Tournament in the quarterfinals, failing to advance past Covenant in a penalty kick shootout.

That left the 2018 team with a chip on their shoulder and unfinished business.

The Lady Lions lost three times against a difficult regular season schedule in 2018, but when it mattered most, in the USA South Tournament Final against Maryville, McNalley delivered the shutout to bring the trophy back to Demorest.

“My absolute favorite memory is winning against Maryville in the 2018 conference championship and becoming champs,” said McNalley. Celebrating on the field with my teammates is something I will never forget.”

In Piedmont’s opening-round NCAA Tournament loss to No. 17 Lynchburg, McNalley personally kept the Lady Lions alive, making 11 crucial saves in the contest.

“To this day I believe that was my best performance of my whole soccer career.” she said.

The natural next questions to ask is: How? What has allowed you to put up these numbers and bring back these trophies?

To that question, McNalley is quick to point to the backing of her teammates and coaches.

As much faith as McNalley has in McCormack, McCormack has the same faith in McNalley, having her back since she arrived on campus.

This is a testament to McNalley’s ability and her role as a trustworthy teammate. As most goalkeepers will tell you, it is impossible to have true success on the field when the teammates in front of you do not trust you or your ability. Clearly, this has never been an issue for McNalley.

“I believe her relationship with her teammates is outstanding, and I think they see her as a leader amongst them,” said McCormack. “It’s good to know from their point of view that they view Miranda in the same way as our coaching staff does which provides a foundation for our program moving forward.”

While the Lady Lions did not enjoy the amount of team success of the previous two season in 2019, McNalley continued racking up saves at a record-breaking rate on her way to All-USA South honors for the third consecutive season.

As she readies for one final run, beginning tonight with an 8:30 p.m. (ET) tilt at East Texas Baptist, there are records to be broken and championships to be chased. One more win in goal will give her the career school record but McNalley is focused on something else: another championship.