BENDIGO’S Daniel Maierhofler is counting down the days until he embarks on the start of a four-year soccer scholarship with Louisiana State University Shreveport.
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Maierhofler will leave for the States on July 27 where he will combine being part of LSUS’ soccer program with studying criminal justice.
The 18-year-old’s journey to LSUS began about 18 months ago with a “National Scouting Report” trial in Melbourne, which resulted in offers from three American colleges in which he chose LSUS – home of the Pilots.
“It’s obviously going to be really exciting and this is an opportunity I’ve been waiting a long time for,” Maierhofler said this week.
Maierhofler will be confronted with what will be a hectic schedule of soccer and study, but it’s one that he is ready to embrace.
“I’ll be leaving on July 27 and the first training session will be on August 2, so it will be straight into it,” Maierhofler said.
“It looks like there will be three training sessions a day – morning, afternoon and recovery at night – and two games a week, so it’s going to be full-on.
“My goal is to obviously break into the team in my first year.
“I’ve seen some footage of how they play over there and it’s very similar to here, so I’m looking forward to going over and giving it my best shot.”
Maierhofler – who finished at Bendigo Senior Secondary College last year – is among six freshmen who have been announced as new recruits to LSUS’ soccer program, which is coached by Phillip Bohn and plays its home games at what’s known as The Swamp.
“Daniel is a young man coming in with good size and technical skill,” Bohn said on the LSUS website.
“He has the versatility to play in a number of roles for us and will be part of our young group of boys that will be with us for four years.
“Our goal is to put together a well-rounded group of student athletes that posses the commitment and ability to be special in all phases as student athletes.
“We expect to be a quality team immediately. To deliver on these expectations we have balanced our recruiting class with transfers and incoming freshmen to provide us much needed experience.”
Maierhofler has played all his soccer with Strathdale in the Bendigo Amateur Soccer League from the age of six.
He broke into the Blues’ division one team as a regular last season playing as a left or right wing and hopes his versatility will be an asset with his new team in the States.
Maierhofler is currently equal second on the BASL’s goalkicking table this season with six – five of which came against the Moama-Echuca Border Raiders last month.
LSUS will play its first game of its new season against Louisiana State University Alexandria on September 23.
