Alison Gagne is a senior captain for the girls soccer team and the backbone of the defensive line. On Wednesday, February 5 Gagne signed her National Letter of Intent to continue her soccer career at the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York. There she will be part of the Engineering Exploration program.  

Gagne selected RIT above other colleges because the school has both a well-known engineering programand a competitive yet unified soccer program. RIT plays in the Liberty League athletic conference and ended their 2019 season with a record of 11-5-2. 

Gagne has been playing soccer for 15 years. She has learned from her years of competitive play how to work well in teams on and off the field. She has also grown in her leadership and communication skills. Gagne received a second team All-County selection in the Frederick News Post this past year and a first team All-County selection her sophomore year. 

Gagne plays wing back for the high school soccer team and her F.C. Frederick club team. During the high school season Gagne recorded a goal in their senior night win over South Hagerstown high school. 

In 2015, Gagne’s F.C. Frederick’s team traveled to Tulsa, Oklahoma to compete for a National title where they became National semifinalists. This same team became state finalists in 2018. 

She expressed that her coaches and teammates meant a lot to her and helped her to get to where she is now. 

“Working hard to see what I’m capable of and what we can accomplish together as a team is my biggest motivation,” said Gagne. 

Although Gagne is moving 260 miles north of home for college, she won’t be far from family. Gagne’s cousins live in Brighton, New York which is only 3.6 miles from Rochester. Diane Gagne, Alison’s mother, was the first coach of the RIT commit. Diane Gagne has watched Alison grow through her entire life and is an important part of where she is today.

“I think that being her first coach helps her know that I’m always there on the good days and the bad days. I’m at every game cheering her and the team on to play hard and not give up.” said Diane Gagne.

At RIT Gagne hopes to compete and grow as a player. She is ready to take on any new responsibility thrown at her. Soccer is a true passion for Gagne.

Gagne said, “I’ll always keep soccer as part of my life.”