Two of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s leading girls soccer players signed their letters of intent to play college soccer.
Headed to schools on opposite coasts and separated by the vast width of the continent, Blake Plummer and Sophia Pugh intend to carry on the good name of JDHS on the field, they said.
Plummer will be just a bit south, attending Peninsula College in Port Angeles, Washington, while Pugh will be further afield, attending the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York.
[Landslide near Seward cuts off road access to residents, tourists]
“I am excited,” Pugh said. “I toured the campus and talked to the coach and she convinced me with our first conversation that I would really enjoy Pratt.”
Pugh said she intends to study architecture and fashion while playing for the Cannoneers. Plummer will be playing for the Pirates in Washington.
Blake Plummer signs her letter of intent to play soccer for Peninsula College on May 9, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
“I like that it’s pretty similar to here,” Plummer said in an interview. “It’s close to home.”
The Pirates, led by Coach Kanyon Anderson, are dominant in the Northwest Athletic Conference, said JDHS girls coach Matt Dusenberry. The team won championships in 2021, 2018 and 2016 according to its website. Malia Miller, another former JDHS player, also plays for Peninsula, Dusenberry said.
“Blake’s going to a school that has a pretty good track record,” Dusenberry said in an interview. “These two have been working very hard. These are the schools they wanted to go to and they just happened to have soccer teams.”
JDHS girls soccer coach Matt Dusenberry poses with Blake Plummer, left, and Sophia Pugh who just signed their letters of intent to play college soccer at separate schools May 9, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Pugh said she’s excited to see how the sport is played far from the West Coast.
“I’m super excited. I’ve never played East Coast schools,” Pugh said. “I really want to see the difference in play style and coaching.”
Plummer said she’s looking forward to studying a health sciences or sports medicine related field.
JDHS girls soccer players Blake Plummer, left, and Sophia Pugh who just signed their letters of intent to play college soccer at separate schools, pose with a tribute to their long time playing together on May 9, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
“I just want to help people,” Plummer said. “I’ve seen people get injured and I’ve seen the toll it takes on their body and mental health. I want to give back.”
The two have worked hard for a long time to get where they are, said Dusenberry, who has coached them for years.
“I’ve been involved in the club soccer thing, so pretty much since they decided to play soccer. It’s cool to see them get the wheels turning,” Dusenberry said. “The last few years, they’ve had a lot of success where every practice, every game inspires them.”
• Contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at 757-621-1197 or mlockett@juneauempire.com.
