Photography courtesy Rath family
Soccer star in the making also excels in the classroom
Soccer means a lot to the Rath family. It’s a topic that comes up again and again at the dinner table. Mother Jennifer Rath played the sport at James Madison University. And her two children, Shannon and James, competed on the varsity squads at Queen Anne’s County High School for several seasons. Overall, each has played soccer for 14 years.
Of the two, Shannon will continue playing soccer in college, suiting up for the University of Lynchburg in Virginia starting next fall. You could say that the siblings are each other’s biggest fan and push each other to try their best. She can’t talk about her soccer career without mentioning the bond with her fraternal twin.
“There is a sibling rivalry there,” says Shannon, who also plays for the U-19 Delaware Rising Soccer Club team for 11 months a year.
Battles aside, the 6-foot, 190-pound James has been instrumental in helping his sister develop as a player. The 5-foot-9 Shannon says he has helped her on and off the field. They played together for four years on the same Queen Anne’s County rec co-ed team before high school.
“He would always encourage me if I was ever down,” Shannon explains. “He would say, ‘Let’s go to White Marsh Park. I will help you.’ We would do one on one drills.
“He likes to bully me a little bit, but it’s fun,” she adds. “I will get him back on the next play. I must say: it has gotten me better, helped me play at a faster pace, and be more physical.”
Now, with her high school career behind her, the 18-year-old Rath, a defender, will spend the offseason gearing up for college. That means working on strength and conditioning for two hours daily with her personal trainer at the Queen Anne’s County Family YMCA and Beacon Fitness in Centreville.
“I have a six-month plan to get into the best shape of my life,” Rath says. Rath won’t make any sacrifices when it comes to academics, though. She carries a perfect 4.0 grade-point average and will major in nursing at Lynchburg. “I have never had a B in my life,” Rath says.
She’ll be just as passionate about soccer in college. The Lynchburg coaching staff will give Rath the chance to play significant minutes early in her career.
Photography courtesy Rath family
“I really think she will have an impact as a freshman,” Former Delaware Rising Coach Kyle Ellis says. “With her size, speed, and pure athleticism, she covers a lot of ground that a lot of other players won’t be able to. And with her physicality, she doesn’t shy away from anyone.”
Rath enjoyed a stellar career at Queen Anne’s. She served as a three-year team co-captain. Winning a Class 2A state championship during the 2024 season highlighted her time there. Rath had a goal in both the state semifinals and quarterfinals to help Lions advance.
“It was like a surreal experience,” Rath says. “I was able to play in the game with all the girls I grew up playing with since I was eight. Most of them were seniors. Watching them win their last game was so much fun.”
Rath finished with 31 goals and 24 assists across four years. Those are pretty good totals considering she anchors the defense. Her junior season was her best. Rath totaled 12 goals and nine assists while earning Bayside Conference Player the Year and Maryland Association of Coaches of Soccer Second-Team honors. This past season she earned First-Team honors from the coaches’ association.
“She is a really great leader,” Queen Anne’s Girls Soccer Coach Mike Kern says. “She makes everyone around her better. When your team needs a big play, she makes it. She is tall, strong, and very fast. A lot of good players hustle when they need to. She hustles all the time.”
Rath showed her athletic ability early in high school. She played two years on the varsity basketball team and ran track as a freshman. Rath excelled in the 100, 200, and 400 meters.
“She would make a great track runner,” Kern says. “I taught her in middle school. She set all kinds of track records at our school.”
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