Taunton-area athlete will continue soccer career at the next level. See where he's going.
REHOBOTH — Another local athlete is taking his game to the collegiate level.
Rehoboth resident Kegan McGonigle, a 2023 graduate of the St. Andrew's School in Barrington, R.I., is headed to the American International College where he'll pursue a doctorate of physical therapy through their six-year accelerated program as well as play NCAA Division 2 soccer for the Yellow Jackets.
For McGonigle, who had also looked at similar programs at Quinnipiac, the University of Connecticut and Boston University, AIC offered exactly what he was looking for both academically and athletically.
"I got very lucky with AIC," McGonigle said. "When the coach (Luke Perry) contacted me to play for the team, it seemed like a done deal (for me) as soon as he asked. It just lined up perfectly with everything that I wanted."
McGonigle, who attended St. Andrew's from the sixth grade through graduation, wraps up a strong high school soccer career with the Saints that saw him as one of their premier scoring threats as a leading forward. He considers his career highlight with the team being their NEPSAC Class C title in 2021, which came after a heartbreaking semifinals loss in 2019 and the cancellation of the 2020 season due to COVID-19.
"Just hearing that final whistle and finally winning it (was incredible)," McGonigle said, adding he was further inspired to win it after his older brother, Ean, won with the Saints in 2016. "It easily tops any moment I've had on a soccer field (by) just succeeding in something I'd been dreaming of my entire high school career."
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He also credits St. Andrew's boys soccer coach and science teacher David Bourk as a key part of his success on and off the pitch during his time with the Saints.
"He always helped me out in the classroom as well as taught me how to be a leader both on and off the field, which has benefitted me outside of St. Andrew's with the morals he's taught me," McGonigle said.
In general, he credits the school for giving him the tools to succeed and putting him in the position he is.
"I feel like St. Andrew's did a very good job of helping me balance my goals for my soccer career along with my academic career," McGonigle said. "I feel like St. Andrew's is a big reason of where I am today."
As he prepares to head out to Springfield, McGonigle says his biggest goals are to complete his DPT program in six years while also making a name for himself in the world of college soccer.
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"I definitely want to stay on top of my tasks because with my program, although it is accelerated, it does mean that through my six years it is more challenging, so through my academics I don't want to get distracted with parties and things like that," McGonigle said. "For soccer, my big goal is that I want to be recognized through the entirety of the NCAA Division 2. I want to go out there, put everything into it and show that I'm one of the top players. For people who passed up on the opportunity to have me, I want to show them that I succeeded."
The Yellow Jackets kick off their 2023 season on Aug. 31 when they host Post University in non-league action.
Taunton Daily Gazette sports reporter Cameron Merritt can be reached at cmerritt@tauntongazette.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @CamMerritt_News. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to the Taunton Daily Gazette today.
This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Rehoboth's Kegan McGonigle commits to American International College soccer
