Not often does a top-points scorer of any sports team transfer to another school. But junior Missy Gordon is the rare exception. Gordon decided to transfer from Marshall University this past summer, but not for soccer reasons.
"I looked into transferring about this time last year," Gordon said. "Marshall didn't offer the special needs major I wanted. That's why I decided to come here."
A native from Carmel, Ind., Gordon said Ball State University's closeness to her home did not factor into her decision to transfer. Her main reason for transferring was for academic purposes.
"It's nice being close to home," Gordon said. "I get to go home when I want and my parents get to come watch me play now." Though Marshall did not offer her desired major, Gordon said it was hard for her to leave. She said she misses the friends she made while in West Virginia and still stays in touch with them.
When Gordon arrived at Ball State, she said it was difficult at first to ease into her new life. She had her own life at Marshall, and she had known no one when she arrived in West Virginia. But Gordon has known teammate Jacki Eft since club soccer in high school and said she that helped her transition to Ball State. "I'm getting used to Ball State now, it was a little hard at first but I've got it," Gordon said. "I love my major and I know people down here so it I got used to it here pretty fast."
Gordon said she has noticed a few similarities and differences between playing for the Thundering Herd and the Cardinals. Marshall is in Conference USA, which means the team would travel as far as El Paso, Texas, for a road match. At Ball State, the furthest conference opponent in the Mid-American Conference is the University at Buffalo.
At the end of the day, it's still playing soccer and making friends, Gordon said. Gordon has two years of eligibility left at Ball State and is hoping to excel on and off the field. "I want to help accomplish the goals the team set at the beginning of the year," Gordon said. "I also want to graduate here and become a special needs teacher."
Meet Missy Gordon
2008 at MarshallGames: 18Points: 11 (3rd on team)Goals: 3 (3rd)Assists: 5 (2nd)Shots: 48 (2nd)Shots on goal: 22 (2nd)
2009 at Ball StateGames: 7Points: 2Assists: 2Shots: 19Shots on goal: 8
In action:Who: Ball State women's soccerWhat: Match at Kent StateWhen: Friday, 4 p.m.Where: Kent, Ohio
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