After scoring 25 goals as a freshman in 2023 for Mother McAuley, Calli Edwards set her sights on getting to 100 in her career.
But there were plenty of times when she wasn’t so sure it would happen.
“When you’re in the 30s and 40s, 100 is a big number,” Edwards said. “There were definitely many moments where I was like, ‘Maybe I set too big of a goal for myself.’ Then there were other times where I’m like, ‘I’ve got this.’
“So, there weren’t too many times where I doubted myself, but there were definitely a few.”
Edwards, now a senior forward, made it to triple digits Sunday with her landmark 100th goal.
She stretched her school-record total to 106 by scoring two more times Wednesday night and tacking on an assist to lead the visiting Mighty Macs to a 6-1 GCAC Red win over De La Salle in Chicago.
Abby Covarrubias also scored twice for McAuley (10-7-2, 2-3-2), while Angy Marquez and Juliette Hall each added a goal and Illinois Wesleyan recruit Lucy Gray made three saves.
Ziya Lawson scored the goal for De La Salle (7-11, 1-6). Najeri Florez made eight saves.
Edwards, meanwhile, is on quite a run, scoring eight times over three games in a four-day stretch, starting with Sunday’s hat trick in a 4-3 shootout loss to Deerfield that pushed her past 100 goals.
“Honestly, when I hit that number, I was in disbelief,” Edwards said. “It was a goal I set my freshman year when I scored 25. I was like, ‘I’m getting 100.’
“I finally accomplished a goal that I set so long ago and I was speechless that day.”
That’s a rarity for Edwards, who has become the voice of the Mighty Macs, consistently leading the team and pushing her teammates to keep getting better.
“I’m so proud of her,” Covarrubias said. “All her hard work and dedication has shown on the field and you see it with 100 goals.
“She’s very encouraging and uplifting. With her personality, you just want to be really good friends with her.”
Mighty Macs coach Megan McCauley has loved being a part of Edwards’ journey.
“It’s beyond words,” McCauley said. “I’m so proud of her. It’s been an awesome four years watching her grow as a leader and a player.”
On Wednesday night, Edwards scored just three minutes into the game before Covarrubias contributed two more goals for a 3-0 halftime lead. Edwards scored again in the second half as the Mighty Macs rolled.
All of her scoring aside, it hasn’t been just smooth sailing in Edwards’ life lately. She recently decommitted from Carthage and is searching for a new college home.
“Academically, Carthage just wasn’t what I needed,” Edwards said. “I was definitely in a state of panic when I first figured it out, but my parents have been amazing with helping me try to find somewhere else.
“My friends at school and my coaches, they all want me to have what’s best for me, so I’ve had a lot of support and I’m just figuring out my options.”
Edwards wants to double major in early childhood education and special education.
“My mom is a special education teacher and for the longest time I was like, ‘I’m never going to be a teacher,’” she said. “This year, I took a class at McAuley and I was in a room with special education students and I was like, ‘This is what I want to do.’”
For now, she’s teaching on the soccer field.
“I try to help the younger girls as much as I can,” she said. “They’re all like my little sisters and it’s so fun playing with family.”
