Published: Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Timeout with … Chelsea Boulton, senior, Arlington soccer
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Mike Cane / The Herald
A goalkeeper ever since she started playing soccer at age 4, Arlington High senior Chelsea Boulton is a talented, outgoing captain for the Eagles girls soccer team. Boulton aspires to become a teacher and might end up playing soccer for Seattle Pacific University.
A soccer goal stands 8 feet high. All-league goalkeeper Chelsea Boulton is 5-foot-4. See a problem?
It’s actually no big deal for Boulton, a team co-captain who uses quickness, positioning and fearlessness to excel between the posts. A starter on varsity since late in her sophomore season, the outgoing Boulton — a self-described joker — was a 2008 All-Wesco North first-team selection.
Last week Boulton capped her highlight-filled Arlington soccer career. She hopes to play in college and keep “living the dream.” (More on that below.)
Coach’s corner
Arlington coach Nathan Davis could always count on Boulton, who constantly inspired teammates this season. “Chelsea has a great heart. She never quits,” Davis said. “She’s always positive — an extremely positive emotional leader, which from a goalkeeping standpoint is fantastic.”
She’s a real keeper
Boulton began playing soccer at age 4 and was a goalkeeper from the beginning. “I just kind of fell in love with it,” Boulton said. She’s very vocal. That’s good because as a goalie “I’m able to really use my voice,” she said. Continually scanning the field, Boulton hollers instructions to teammates — pointing out who they should mark closely, where they should line up, etc. — and also shouts words of encouragement.
Tough enough
During her sophomore year, Boulton broke the pinky finger on her right hand when she dove to stop a shot in practice. For a while she played with a cast in the midfield on the junior-varsity team. But a few days after getting the cast off, she became the varsity starting ’keeper for the playoffs.
This year she endured a painful collision during a game at Snohomish and kept playing. “I went up for the ball and two girls landed on my head,” Boulton said. “You have to throw your body out there.”
Height isn’t everything
As mentioned, Boulton is 5-4. “It’s kind of hard,” she said. “I just have to give it my all and hope for the best because (lack of height is) probably one of my weaknesses.” But Boulton has been good enough to attract recruiting interest from Seattle Pacific University. “I don’t even think about (being short),” said Boulton, who hopes to play for the Falcons. “In a game situation you’ve just got to live the dream and leave everything on the field.”
Keep living the dream
Boulton’s motto is “living the dream,” a phrase from one of her favorite movies. “That’s going to be my yearbook quote,” she said with a laugh.
Higher education
This school year Boulton is taking a Careers in Education class to see if she wants to become a teacher. During the second semester she will get experience as a student teacher.
Soothing sounds
Boulton plays guitar and sings. She took guitar lessons as a freshman and now plays with her youth group. She enjoys performing Goo Goo Dolls songs and religious tunes. Said Boulton: “I just like the acoustic sound.”
Mike Cane, Herald Writer
It’s actually no big deal for Boulton, a team co-captain who uses quickness, positioning and fearlessness to excel between the posts. A starter on varsity since late in her sophomore season, the outgoing Boulton — a self-described joker — was a 2008 All-Wesco North first-team selection.
Last week Boulton capped her highlight-filled Arlington soccer career. She hopes to play in college and keep “living the dream.” (More on that below.)
Coach’s corner
Arlington coach Nathan Davis could always count on Boulton, who constantly inspired teammates this season. “Chelsea has a great heart. She never quits,” Davis said. “She’s always positive — an extremely positive emotional leader, which from a goalkeeping standpoint is fantastic.”
She’s a real keeper
Boulton began playing soccer at age 4 and was a goalkeeper from the beginning. “I just kind of fell in love with it,” Boulton said. She’s very vocal. That’s good because as a goalie “I’m able to really use my voice,” she said. Continually scanning the field, Boulton hollers instructions to teammates — pointing out who they should mark closely, where they should line up, etc. — and also shouts words of encouragement.
Tough enough
During her sophomore year, Boulton broke the pinky finger on her right hand when she dove to stop a shot in practice. For a while she played with a cast in the midfield on the junior-varsity team. But a few days after getting the cast off, she became the varsity starting ’keeper for the playoffs.
This year she endured a painful collision during a game at Snohomish and kept playing. “I went up for the ball and two girls landed on my head,” Boulton said. “You have to throw your body out there.”
Height isn’t everything
As mentioned, Boulton is 5-4. “It’s kind of hard,” she said. “I just have to give it my all and hope for the best because (lack of height is) probably one of my weaknesses.” But Boulton has been good enough to attract recruiting interest from Seattle Pacific University. “I don’t even think about (being short),” said Boulton, who hopes to play for the Falcons. “In a game situation you’ve just got to live the dream and leave everything on the field.”
Keep living the dream
Boulton’s motto is “living the dream,” a phrase from one of her favorite movies. “That’s going to be my yearbook quote,” she said with a laugh.
Higher education
This school year Boulton is taking a Careers in Education class to see if she wants to become a teacher. During the second semester she will get experience as a student teacher.
Soothing sounds
Boulton plays guitar and sings. She took guitar lessons as a freshman and now plays with her youth group. She enjoys performing Goo Goo Dolls songs and religious tunes. Said Boulton: “I just like the acoustic sound.”
Mike Cane, Herald Writer
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