Libby Stout never felt the closure that most collegiate athletes feel after their last game in the school's uniform. Most playing a sport know in that moment, it is the end of one thing and the beginning of something new in their life. That wasn't the case for Stout.
"When I was done with college soccer, I never felt like it was over. I always had the feeling that it would continue and that I would do whatever I could to make it continue," said Stout. On Monday, the Boston Breakers, a National Women's Soccer League club team, announced that they had signed the goalkeeper to the 2016 roster.
Stout comes back to the U.S. after spending four years playing professional soccer overseas. She spent the previous two seasons with the Liverpool Ladies Football Club after stints in Germany and France. While a part of the Liverpool L.F.C., the team competed in the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League the past two seasons and won the Football Association Women's Soccer League division title in 2014. The experiences from playing on those teams was something that is irreplaceable, says Stout.
"You're playing with people who take their career seriously and have goals and want to see not only themselves do well but also want their teammates and team to do even better. I think that's really been an eye-opening experience," Stout observes.
As much as the Louisville, Ky. native has enjoyed her experiences developing her game overseas, being home means something special to her and her family.
"My family has watched me since I was little and they never missed a WKU game so it was difficult for them when I went away. It was always nice to know that I had my family out in the crowd for support. It's huge for me to be able to have the opportunity again to have my family there. It's definitely something I've missed over the last few years," commented Stout.
While at WKU, Stout racked up 39 shutouts and 45 career wins, both are school records. She also finished with a 0.68 GAA for her four years on the Hill.
As she developed as a goalkeeper at WKU, Stout says she also built her character while on campus thanks to head coach Jason Neidell.
"I think WKU gave me the basis for who I am now as a person, I learned some really valuable leadership lessons. Just being in position where you're a captain of a team and you figure out how to work with a group. I think I really learned a lot of my core values at WKU. Jason really helped me develop those skills and he has been a massive person for me in bringing me to WKU and putting his faith in me," added Stout.
While she signed with the Breakers only a few days ago, Stout has already began setting goals for herself. Goals that include making a run at the U.S. Women's National Team.
"I want to win the No. 1 spot, that's my main goal at this point. I think it's everyone's goal that if you're playing a professional sport to play at the highest level and for us it's the international level with the national team. It's certainly a goal of mine to compete at that level. Hopefully, being in the states now my chances are little bit higher to have that opportunity," said Stout.
Stout didn't feel that soccer was over for her after college and she was right. Four years later and the keeper is still reaching for new heights and pushing herself to the limit.
