Star athletes believe in hard work and lucky candy

Abby Lutz and Natalie Schooley have been lifesavers on the soccer field as clutch performers and senior captains of the Paul VI High School girls soccer team.

Years from now, they’ll be saving lives professionally.

Lutz and Schooley have a lot in common as catalysts of one of the best teams in South Jersey. They also both plan on pursuing the nursing field in college. Both seem to have what it takes to excel in a tough but noble profession.

“My mom-mom was a nurse and she used to come over all the time,” Schooley said. “Every time I got hurt, she would always fix me up so I’ve always had her as a role model. I wanted to help people like she helped me.”

Lutz’s motivation also harkens back to her childhood.

“I’ve grown up watching medical shows and things like that but I really just want to help people and I think that this is the best way to do it,” said Lutz. “This year, COVID has definitely inspired me because people need help, and I would love to be on that front line.”

On the soccer field, Lutz plays the front line for the Eagles, controlling play along the left side. She made an instant impact as a freshman and has contributed 15 goals and 22 assists over the course of four years at Paul VI High School, Haddonfield.

Schooley also burst on the scene as a freshman and has accumulated 22 goals and 21 assists in her high school career (through Oct. 18).

Both players were voted First Team All-Olympic Conference, National Division last year and both have high aspirations for this season.

“I think we have a senior-heavy class this year but the underclassmen have been 100 percent pulling their weight,” Lutz said. “I’m so proud of my team and this coaching staff. We’ve been doing some awesome things on the field.”

And off the field.

Aside from running track, which Lutz will pursue at the next level, she’s also involved in her school’s peer leadership program and National Honors Society. In what little spare time she has, Lutz volunteers by taking her certified therapy dog to nursing homes and libraries. The 7-year-old golden retriever named “Harp” happily obliges.

“We go to nursing homes and libraries and kids read to him,” Lutz said. “I actually did a research project in school where I was studying stress in students and I brought him in for midterms and the students got to see him during their free (period). It was pretty awesome.”

Harp also makes appearances at a few Paul VI soccer games, wearing a custom made soccer jersey. Sadly, he only has a few more times to see Lutz play before she leaves for college next year. Lutz said she’s considering the U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy West Point and several Ivy League schools where she will run track.

“Since seventh grade, I’ve been looking at the academies of West Point and Navy so they are at the top of the list,” said Lutz, who specializes in the 800 and the 4×400 relay in the spring.

“I’ve been blessed with my education. I went to Kingsway Middle School which gave me a great foundation and PVI has awesome academics so I’ve been able to thrive in all the classrooms.”

Schooley is more certain of where she will be next year as she is committed to play soccer at East Stroudsburg University next fall. She enjoys the pressure situations, playing in the Eagles’ midfield and is often her own toughest critic.

“I think that I’m always motivated to do my best and I’m very hard on myself,” Schooley said. “If people think I’m doing good, but I know in my heart that I’m not doing good, it keeps me motivated to do my best because the most important person to impress is myself. I always want to be the best I can.”

Schooley prides herself on being a top-notch ping-pong player in a club at school.

“I’m actually really good,” Schooley said with a laugh. “We have a ping-pong table in our basement and I’m really competitive. You don’t want to play against me.”

Schooley takes part in Student Ambassadors and skis and snowboards when she’s not waiting tables with her part time job.

The competitiveness and hard work ethic exemplified by Lutz and Schooley fueled the Eagles to a 3-2-1 record following a tough 2-1 overtime loss at Rancocas Valley over the weekend. They believe the best is still ahead, especially once they break out the good luck tradition of eating Swedish Fish before games. It sparked a 10-game winning streak last season and the girls believe the magic will once again give them a boost.

“The fear-the-fish tradition was a big part of our season last year,” Lutz said with a laugh. “But the way we’ve been playing, I think we can go out and challenge all the powerful big schools.”