Coming off of a spectacular debut season for Georgia Southern women's soccer, rising sophomore Katie Oakley is taking advantage of a rare opportunity to not only improve her game this Summer, but represent the Eagles on the international stage.
The All-Sun Belt Conference goalkeeper is competing for Jamaica's U-20 national team, and has already gotten a taste of what all international competition entails.
Jamaica had to qualify in April to compete in this Summer's CONCACAF U-20 Women's Championships, which it did so in spectacular fashion, going an unbeaten 3-0 with three clean sheets. Oakley made her first international appearance in the 6-0 win by Jamaica over Anguilla, playing all of the second half in the clean sheet victory. That led to an appearance in the May tournament, where the Reggae Girlz competed in group stage action against Panama, Canada and the United States.
Oakley did not see action in the first two matches of the group stage against Canada and the US, but got the start in the final match of the group stage against Panama. Oakley shined in her first international start, making five saves as Jamaica defeated Panama, 4-1, giving the Reggae Girlz momentum coming out of the tournament.
We talked with Oakley about how the opportunity to play for Jamaica through her father Leslie's nationality came about and what that opportunity has meant to her this Summer.
How did this opportunity to play internationally for Jamaica come about?
"In 2020, I got called up to the U-17 Jamaican Women's National team, but due to COVID-19, I was unable to finish the camp and play in the CONCACAF Qualifiers that year. But this led to my exposure with the national team, which gave me the opportunity to compete this year."
What were your emotions as you took the pitch for the first time for Jamaica in the CONCACAF Qualifiers?
"I was extremely excited, stepping out onto the pitch and being able to represent my dad's country of Jamaica!"
Talk about getting the start and the win against Panama in the final group stage match.
"When I heard my name on the starting lineup, I was ready to play. I went into warmups with so much enthusiasm because I was excited to play! The entire game, we were hitting Panama with our skills and we came out of the game with a 4-1 win, with their lone goal coming from a penalty kick."
How has this experience helped you and what will you be able to bring back from this summer to the Eagles in the Fall?
"This experience has helped me see a higher level of competition, which will help with the competitiveness of the Fall season. Coach Hugh Bradford helped me so much with putting the game into a whole other perspective. His use of his favorite quotes that relate to life also apply to the game of soccer. One that stuck to me the most was 'people who want to be good do it until they get it right, people who want to be great do it until they don't get it wrong'. All of what I learned during the camps and games, I will apply to the Fall season and apply his words to the game of soccer. Applying his words will help me strive to becoming a great player and not just a good player!"
Oakley and the Eagles will begin the Fall season with a pair of exhibition contests in early August before opening the regular season on Thursday, August 17 at UAB.
