Burley goalkeepers accomplishing their dreams: Two Bobcats sign to play college soccer

BURLEY, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — It was a great day to be a Burley Bobcat on Tuesday, just ask the Bobcats who sent off two players to continue their athletic careers at the next level.

Goalkeepers Abigail Haymore of the Lady Bobcats has signed on to play collegiate soccer at Central Wyoming College, while Neftali Arellano of the boys’ team will play at Centralia College in Washington.

The two played a couple of seasons together for their club team and would alternate halves in goal.

For Haymore, her path to Central Wyoming was unique, but she wouldn’t change it for the world.

Haymore is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and was invited to a national soccer camp that fell on a Sunday.

She initially didn’t plan to go since it was on Sunday, but prayed with her family and ended up going.

At the camp, she ran into coach Ken DeCook and felt drawn to go talk to him.

“I felt a feeling to talk to him because all the other coaches said they weren’t looking for a goalie,” Haymore said. “Then I went to talk to him and he said he was looking for only a stud of a goalie. I visited and fell in love with the school and the program.”

Following Haymore, it was Arellano’s turn to sign.

He is a two-time all-Great Basin Conference member, including being a first-team member this year.

As a junior, he was also named sportsperson of the year, thanks to his outstanding leadership.

Not only will he be playing soccer, but he will be the first member of his family to go to college.

“I just started working hard, and working so hard to play collegiate soccer and make my family proud,” Arellano said. “I just want to make everyone proud.

He joked with KMVT, saying he was most looking forward to attending Seattle Seahawks games which are under 90 minutes North of campus.

Two soccer players, two goalkeepers, and two soon-to-be collegiate athletes, congrats to both.

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