Spring Break
The Daily OrangeFH | Transfer Taylor named captain in 1st season
By Conor Orr
Posted: 8/27/08, 11:12 PM EST Section: Sports
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In a 2006 game with Taylor and Bradley riding a 45-game winning streak together at Richmond, the score was surprisingly tied against Temple. Taylor walked up to Bradley and assured her that she would win the game.
"She said 'I'm going to hit the winning goal, we're going to end this right now,'" Bradley recalled. "And I said 'Alright, pick a corner.' She did it, and we went on to the (conference) championship."
Taylor scored five minutes into the first overtime, edging the Spiders past Temple, 2-1. Richmond went on to defeat St. Joseph's, 3-2, to win its fifth straight Atlantic 10 Championship.
That kind of confidence vaulted the transfer Taylor into captainship this fall with Syracuse. She officially reunites with Bradley in the team's season opener on Sunday when No. 18 Syracuse faces off against No. 8 Old Dominion.
The transfer up north wasn't easy, though.
At Richmond, Shannon Taylor had it all. A good education close to home, an Atlantic 10 offensive player of the year award and a coach she deeply admired. However, the fairytale senior season that Taylor was looking forward to, took a turn for the unexpected when Bradley took the same position at Syracuse University.
The decision left the standout midfielder to decide between everything she was familiar with and a senior year with the coach who helped shape her game. She chose the unorthodox transfer to SU, and now will be counted on as a team leader. Taylor was forced to sit out one season and leave three years of friends and memories behind.
"I did have a lot of friends (at Richmond)," Taylor said. "I had a lot of great teammates and actually had a boyfriend."
Despite the emotional connection she had with her former school, Taylor eventually made the decision to join her coach. With Richmond in 2006, Taylor led the Atlantic 10 in goals (30), points (69) and game-winning goals (seven).
The sustained success with Richmond was difficult to leave.
"When it comes to taking that next step in your life and what you think is going to be best for you, I really had to buckle down and see that this is best decision for me," Taylor said.
Taking a back seat for one year while still putting in the grueling hours was nothing less than frustrating, she said.
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