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Women's Soccer Spotlight: Shannon Dennehey
April 19, 2013 | Women's Soccer
April 18, 2013
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Shannon Dennehey, a rising redshirt sophomore forward and midfielder for the University of Louisville women's soccer team, is thankful Louisville gave her the opportunity to compete as a student-athlete despite struggling with injuries for the majority of her high school career.
Dennehey started playing soccer around the age of five helping mold her into the competitive person she has become. Quickly developing her game, Dennehey began travelling with her soccer clubs, playing for coach Mike Payne.
"Coach Mike Payne was the coach from my first travel team until the end of my junior year," explained Dennehey. "He made practice so intense but so fun at the same time. There was never a day I didn't look forward too. I definitely consider him my role model growing up."
While learning the game, Dennehey suffered her first serious injury before her high school career ever started.
"During eighth grade, I had my first serious injury leading to knee surgery," said Dennehey. "I had my meniscus repaired. Unfortunately, during my freshman year of high school, I did the same to the other knee."
Struggling with knee problems the majority of her high school career, recruiting was quiet as schools were nervous to take a chance on an athlete with an injury history.
"Throughout high school, I had ongoing issues with my knee making recruiting pretty difficult," Dennehey said. "I wasn't getting the looks I wanted."
Near the end of the recruiting process, Louisville reached out to Dennehey giving her the opportunity to compete and study as a student-athlete for the Cardinals. After a difficult recruiting process, Dennehey remains appreciative Louisville reached out to her.
"I'm so thankful Louisville even considered me so late in the process and giving me the opportunity," she said.
Dennehey is taking advantage of the opportunity by studying for a career after soccer and receiving treatment to rehabilitate her knees.
"I have the best medical staff I could ask for and my schoolwork has never been more on point," said Dennehey. "I'm a physical education teacher major and love it. It's exactly what I'm interested in doing and will begin student teaching next spring."
