Bishop Stang senior Lily Shields has signed on to play women's soccer with American International College (AIC) in Springfield.

The college is part of the Northeast-10 Conference and plays at the NCAA Division II level. Her parents, Bob and Sue Shields, her siblings, coaches, teammates, and friends were in attendance at the signing.

The Lakeville resident plans to study health sciences and physical therapy and was impressed by the strength of the college programs in those areas, according to information provided by Bishop Stang.

Stephanie Gorden, the women's soccer coach at American International College, recruited Shields to play. Her interactions with Gorden, along with the small campus, made Shields feel at home with the school and the team, according to the news release. Her goal is to be successful academically as well as an impact player in their soccer program.

"Bishop Stang soccer has been the highlight of my high school experience. I have made friendships that will last my whole life. Stang is a welcoming community and very close-knit. I have felt comfortable and very much at home during my time here,’’ Shields said. “I would not be where I am today without my teammates. They are the reason why I am successful on the field. They have been my best friends for the past four years. I also believe the school has prepared me for college very well, both academically and athletically."

She grew up in a soccer family and is the youngest of three daughters. Sisters Tori and Bella were soccer standouts before her, and Lily watched them play growing up, which motivated her to train harder and work harder on her skills. 

She also credits her parents for countless rides to practices, games, and tournaments. “They have been supportive of me for my whole life,’’ she said. “They push me to be the best version of myself. " 

However, her most exceptional experience has been playing for her father, who is the girls soccer coach at Bishop Stang. 

"I have had the pleasure of coaching Lily for the last four years,’’ her coach and father said. “She became an impactful part of the style of soccer we played along with the culture we were building. Her commitment in the offseason was to get better each and every year, and Lily is a testament to what it means to be a student-athlete. She strives for excellence, both academically and athletically, and she has been a role model to her teammates and classmates. We can't wait to see what the next four years will bring."