OBSERVER Photo by Aaron Lundmark

“I can’t thank everyone enough… I feel very loved,” said Fredonia High School senior Audrey Taylor on Wednesday as she signed her letter of intent to play women’s soccer at Division II Edinboro University next fall. Pictured above is Audrey (middle) surrounded by her parents (seated), Fredonia High School principal Darrin Paschke (far left) and Fredonia athletic director Greg Lauer (far right). Taylor spent this past summer season playing for the Empire United U-16/17 team with the U.S. Soccer Development Academy in Rochester. She appeared in 31 games for Empire United in the 2017-2018 season. “It’s a very high level premier soccer team,” said Taylor. “I was lucky enough to be accepted onto the team. I’ve gained so much perspective of soccer through that — the experience, the competitive nature and the competition level has all put me where I am today.” Taylor will look to join an Edinboro squad who went 6-11 this past season, and Taylor knew from the moment she stepped on campus, it’s where she wanted to be. “Everybody has told me that there’s a feeling when you visit a campus,” said Taylor. “As soon as I stepped on Edinboro’s campus and met the team, the coaches and the people of Edinboro, it was an unforgettable feeling of ‘this is where I need to be.'” Taylor is going to be studying psychology with the hopes of becoming either a sports psychologist or a criminal psychologist. Taylor spent her freshman and sophomore seasons with the Fredonia High School team, and she knows the relationships she’s formed will be with her forever. “The relationships, the people I’ve met,” said Taylor when asked about what she’ll remember the most. “The staff, the coaches — having those people in my life and the players alongside of me — I’ll take that with me forever throughout my future.”