MEGAN JAKUBICKA (2008 ECNL) CALLED UP TO SLOVAKIAN U17 NATIONAL TEAM

2008 Girls ECNL standout Megan Jakubicka is going international! Last week, Megan got the call to play for Slovakia's U17 National team. Spotlight got the chance to ask her a few questions about her amazing opportunity

SS: Detail your Scorpions journey. How long have you been with the club, which teams have you played on and which coaches have you played for?

MJ: This is my second year at Scorpions but I guest played with the team for a season before joining.  I’ve been playing with the 2008 Scorpion ECNL team both years, but last year I unfortunately could only play for a couple of games as I tore my ACL and had surgery in February. Kevin has been my coach while I’ve been a part of the club, but while I was guest playing I was able to play under Coach Nick. 

SS: How did you get involved with the Slovakian national team?

MJ: Both my parents are from Slovakia and when we would go and visit family there we would briefly talk about the national team as my dad played soccer in Slovakia for as long as he was there. My dad reached out to Slovakian team’s coach, sending highlights and games of me playing, which then led to the coaches inviting me to attend the camp. 

SS: How did you feel when you got the call to play U17?

MJ: I am extremely excited to be presented with the opportunity to attend the National Slovakian camp again. Last year I was also selected and I was looking forward to going, had plane tickets and everything lined up, but while I was playing at the ODP Interregional event in Florida I tore my ACL, a week before I was supposed to leave. But this year I’m so happy to be back and grateful to be given this chance again, almost exactly a year after my surgery.  I’m slowly getting into the form I was before and am excited to learn from this unique experience.   

SS: What does the call up entail? Will you be traveling? 

MJ: Being called up involves attending a week in a half camp in Turkey (due to the warmer weather there) in February where I will train with the other girls as the coaches will be evaluating us. 

SS: You are at the beginning of an exciting journey. Where would you like that journey to take you?

MJ: Hopefully I will be picked for the main roster after this camp and will have the opportunity to play in the qualifying games against other U17 National teams. I am also excited to gain valuable experiences from this as it will be a huge change from my current soccer environment that I will be able to learn from and make me a better player. 

.Congratulations Megan! Good luck and play well