Class made its mark while helping UNT during transition (Pt. 3)

[Harry]

EDITOR’S NOTE: North Texas became a member of Conference USA at the beginning of July 2013. In its three-part series, the Denton Record-Chronicle is looking at the impact that UNT’s move to C-USA after 12 years in the Sun Belt Conference had on the school, how its athletic program fared and where the Mean Green is headed. Today’s final installment focuses on a highly decorated senior class across all sports that guided UNT during its first year in the league and the challenge of filling the void those players leave.

Kelsey Hodges didn’t travel far to get to North Texas when it came time to start her college soccer career. A short drive across Denton from where she was a star at Guyer was all that was necessary.

Four years later, Hodges is halfway across the country playing for the Seattle Sounders Women, one of 25 teams in the W-League. The league of international stars and elite college players amounts to the Triple-A of professional women’s soccer, one step below the National Women’s Soccer League.

“It’s been a culture shock, but I love it,” Hodges said. “The weather is great and I’m getting to play with people from all over the country and even Canada. The goal is to get to the top league.”

read more: http://www.dentonrc.com/sports/colleges/north-texas-headlines/20140708-senior-leadership.ece