Coming into Glenbrook South’s West Chicago Invite May 2 game against the host, the Titans’ Olivia Peters knew she was approaching 100 goals and that the likelihood of reaching the milestone was high that day.

But she didn’t know how close she actually was.

“I actually thought I had one less than I did,” Peters said. “I actually thought I broke it on my third goal.”

The Titans won the game 4-1 thanks to Peters’ four goals. They accounted for her 99th, 100th, 101st and 102nd career goals.

“It’s definitely an amazing feeling, one I didn’t think I’d ever get,” Peters said. “I knew when I ended my junior year that I had around 70 goals so it became a bit of a personal goal to get to that mark.”

Peters became the second player in GBS program history to eclipse the century mark in goals scored, joining former Titan Jannelle Flaws, who finished with 145 goals. Flaws would also set the scoring record at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she was an All-American and was drafted by the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women’s Soccer League this past January.

However, there was a stretch where Peters didn’t think getting this goal was possible.

Peters tore her ACL twice during her high school career, once in each knee. The right ACL was torn going into her freshman year of high school and her left going into her junior year. 

“Both of them were hard but I think the one going into my junior year was harder,” Peters said. “I had had a pretty good sophomore year and had kind of a target on my back as someone to watch for and not being able to touch a ball for six months was rough. The start of my junior year I was a bit tentative because I was being so conscious of my knees.”

Peters started her soccer career at the young age of 5, playing for her mom because it was a good way to be active and fit her competitive nature. She actually started as a goalie until she was 8 and has played all over the field for both her club team and the Titans.

“People were in my ear about her before she got to the school but she’s been even better than advertised,” GBS coach Seong Ha said. 

While it was her mom that was her reason for playing soccer, another member of her family inspired her to be the best she could be: her grandpa.

“My grandpa is my biggest inspiration for sure,” Peters said. “He always came to all my club games and when we played here in high school and was always my biggest supporter. When he passed away I really started playing for all the people that have always supported me, making sure I leave no regrets.”

Peters will take her game to Walsh University in Ohio next year, where she will also study physical therapy.

“Walsh offered me a great opportunity to play soccer and get into physical therapy because it gives me a chance to be a student as well as an athlete,” Peters said. “I want to go into physical therapy because I went through it as an athlete and love the interaction you have with the trainers and you get to form a bond. Seeing people do things they haven’t done in a while because of an injury, seeing you make a difference and how much you’re helping and giving back is a great feeling.”

“Her leadership stands out so much now,” Ha said. “When you look at how bad she wants it and puts others ahead of her, it’s contagious. Others have bought in. She’s meant so much to us and taught others how to take their game to the next level. 

“It’s going to be real hard losing her.”

– See more at: http://www.glenviewlantern.com/high-school/girls-soccer-gbs%E2%80%99-olivia-peters-scores-100th-career-goal#sthash.c9yXfyXM.dpuf