Avon Lake's Camryn Koski to play soccer at Northern Kentucky

For four years Camryn Koski has done it all for Avon Lake. Next year she'll be doing it for Northern Kentucky. A day before the Shoregals began defense of their Division III district title, Koski announced Wednesday on X (formerly Twitter) her decision to commit to the Horizon League school just across the Ohio border. "I really liked the campus and the soccer part was a huge part of it as well," Koski said. "They are in the Horizon League and they are a very strong team. Their forwards are usually very strong and they said I could contribute in that aspect of the game."Koski was the Southwestern Conference Player of the Year in 2024 and enters Avon Lake's district semifinal Tuesday against Kenston with 31 career goals and 31 career assists. She's third in school history in assists and ninth in goals. "She has done everything for us offensively but to not also mention what she brings defensively just wouldn't be fair," Avon Lake coach Doug Buczak said. "She's a tremendous defender, she has great pace, a willingness to put her body on the line. Northern Kentucky got a good one in Camryn."At Northern Kentucky she will rejoin former Shoregals teammate Olivia Lengel. Together they won three SWC championships. "I talked to Olivia and she talked to the coach and told her I was super interested and she reached out to me and then I set up a visit," Koski said. Koski played on some of the best teams and with some of the best players in the 33-year history of the Avon Lake program. Buczak said Koski played a big role in everyone's success. "Camryn has been around a lot of successful players but a lot of their success was Camryn feeding the ball to them and her being a threat to score, thereby creating space for others," Buczak said. For Koski a Division I scholarship offer is the culmination of years of hard work and training. "I've worked really hard to get to where I am. So much time, money and effort," Koski said. "I am super excited to continue my career. I am happy this year won't be my last time stepping on the field."I played club soccer since I was in fourth grade," Koski said. "My sophomore year I really decided I wanted to play college soccer and it came true. The last two years I've played for Internationals, which is a big commitment because we train an hour away and we practice four or five time a week and have one or two games a week. There were lots of late nights but the effort paid off."Koski leads the Shoregals this year with eight assists and is tied with fellow senior Kate Murray with nine goals. The stat line only begins to show what Koski means to the Shoregals. Buczak calls her "the most skilled player" he's ever coached. Koski also relishes her role as a leader. "Every since I was a freshman I enjoyed leading the team," Koski said. "In the last two years I've taken on a bigger leadership role."Contact Todd Shapiro at (440) 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.