BENTON – Marshall County soccer player, Levi Darnall, signed on Thursday to play soccer for the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville under Head Coach Mat Santoro and Assistant Coach Robert Bennett.
USI is an NCAA Division II school and a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference, considered the best in the nation.
A member of the soccer program since 2009, Levi had varsity starts during his freshman and sophomore years until he took over as a full-time starter as goalkeeper his junior and senior years and was a part of three regional titles.
Levi is known for his durability, quick reflexes and “soft” hands in goal.
He plans to pursue a degree in Criminal Justice.
“Levi has earned this moment and the opportunity to play at USI”, Head Coach Andrew Pagel said. “He was always prepared and his teammates had supreme confidence in him. As primarily a field-player’s coach, I was personally never able to give him the individual attention I would have liked, but Assistant (keeper) Coach Brandon Dodd and he worked hard to raise his level. I know that perhaps his biggest influence has been his youth coach, Tony Sonnabend.”
Levi’s capstone individual moment was winning Region One player of the Year this past season.
“I would say that what elevated his game versus the past few years, and past other keepers he faced, was his transformation his senior season”, Pagel said. “Levi was always a good shot-stopper, but he became a game manager and an option back from the field players to remove pressure and switch the point of attack.”
Many have helped develop Levi along the way, including past and current MCHS coaches Don Walker and Jared Rosa, Donnie Heath, Dodd and Bryan Blevins. Western Kentucky PAO Club coach Sonnabend and a number of youth coaches have also played large roles in his growth as a person and as a player.
“Levi and his parents, David and Shawna’s contributions to the program will be missed at Marshall County High, but we wish him well and know he will excel”, Pagel said. “We are proud of the young man he is becoming.”
