Angel Hailey was self-taught on how to be a goalie, but that never slowed her down on the way to being one of the best that Northwest ever saw put on the gloves.Â
Even before Northwest, Hailey was one of the top goalies in the region, helping the Southaven Lady Chargers to four playoff appearances, earning a pair of All-Region 1-6A selections, and was named the Wendy’s High School Heisman for the school after collecting 65 saves during her senior year, and making state in powerlifting and tennis while she was at it. Â
That success continued to the collegiate level, where she would log 623 minutes in goal, picking up five starts in 13 appearances as a freshman and helping the Rangers into the postseason, where she would start both of their matches. That included an incredible 17-save performance against Pearl River in a 1-0 upset win for the Rangers before they fell to Holmes in the semifinals, despite 13 saves. Â
Hailey’s sophomore campaign was even more impressive as the Rangers defense gave up more than their fair share of opportunities for her to make saves, and she compiled a program record 190 saves in the season, including a pair of games with 19 saves, two more with 18, and eleven total matches where she had double-digit saves. This while only allowing 34 goals and saving 84.8 percent of her chances. Hailey also did it as the only goalie for the Rangers, starting and playing the length of all 15 matches. Â
This gained her the attention of UL Monroe, where she would play for one season before wrapping up her collegiate career at the University of Montevallo, eventually graduating with a bachelor’s in graphic design. Â
Her soccer career wasn’t over, though, as she would eventually sign with the Memphis Americans of the National Indoor Soccer League, where she helped them win back-to-back championships and was named the Goalie of the Year both seasons. From there, she would play for the Memphis Mayhem of the Premier American Soccer League as well as the Cincinnati Sirens. Â
