By Jim Hague
Renae McEvoy was perfectly content with her life two years ago. She had a full-time job with the Morris County Prosecutor’s office. Since she had aspirations to someday pursue a career in law enforcement, McEvoy’s involvement with the Morris County Prosecutor’s office certainly got her foot in the door.
But still something was missing. After spending two years playing soccer at the County College of Morris, McEvoy needed to get back to her favorite pastime, which is playing soccer.
“I had to get back to school so I could play soccer,” McEvoy said. “I knew I needed my degree, but I knew I had two years of eligibility left to play soccer. Soccer helped my decision. I had to give up the job and that was the hardest decision I had to make. But I didn’t want to go to night school to get my degree and I wanted to play soccer.”
McEvoy said that she was looking for schools and realized that Rutgers-Newark was a perfect fit.
For Rutgers-Newark head women’s soccer coach Bill Bustamante, McEvoy was a fantastic addition to his program.
“Getting Renae was extremely vital,” Bustamante said. “Not just from the soccer standpoint. She comes from an area (Morris County in New Jersey) where we haven’t been fortunate to get players. It’s a good area for women’s soccer.”
McEvoy is a native of Denville and a graduate of Morris Knolls, a solid high school program.
“We’re hoping that since Renae came, others from that area will follow,” Bustamante said.
One thing is for sure. McEvoy is perhaps one of the most versatile players that ever played for the Scarlet Raiders. She regularly plays both on the defensive back line and moves up to play forward as well for stretches.
“She’s one of our better athletes,” Bustamante said. “She can play up top, but because of her speed, she can also play defender. It’s uncommon to see someone play both and do it as successfully as Renae does. We are able to make that transition as the game goes on, depending upon the opposition. If we need Renae’s speed, we can put her with the defenders. If we need to score, she goes with the forwards. It’s such a valuable asset to have that piece to use, depending on the situation.”
McEvoy likes her incredible versatility.
“I like being able to have an impact like that,” McEvoy said. “Whatever I can bring to help the team, I’m all for it. It’s always about bringing something to the team. I know what’s expected of me.”
McEvoy knows that she has an advantage over most soccer players.
“I definitely have speed,” McEvoy said. “That’s my biggest asset. I also know that I can overrun a play, so I have to be careful. Coach (Bustamante) tells me that I’m almost too fast for my own good. But I’m always off and running. It’s always been my strength. I’ve learned out to control it, when to stop and when to let it go.”
McEvoy said that she has always been fast, going back to her days running track in grammar school.
“But my sport has always been soccer,” McEvoy said. “Nothing else fulfills me.”
“Renae has a handle on the competitive aspect of things,” Bustamante said. “She’s a player who has the immense desire to be successful to win. She’s the kind of athlete we’re trying hard to bring to our program. She’s dedicated and committed and she can bring our program to a higher level.”
Bustamante didn’t hesitate by naming McEvoy as one of the team’s captains this season.
“Because of her work ethic and her ability to demand that from others, she’s a fine captain,” Bustamante said. “She has a very strong personality and is able to channel that toward others. She’ll set the example and the other young players will follow suit.”
McEvoy was flattered that she was selected as a team captain.
“It’s such an honor,” McEvoy said. “It shows that Coach believes in me. I was a transfer student and I didn’t know whether the girls on this team would accept me. But to have that responsibility as captain is the greatest feeling ever. It’s actually overwhelming.”
McEvoy is off to a solid start this season, scoring a goal and adding two assists in a recent win over York College. She had four goals and a team-high six assists last season.
“She’s given a lot to this program in two years,” Bustamante said. “It’s her last year and she wants to go out with the best way possible, by giving 150 percent in training and in games.”
McEvoy will graduate in May with her degree in criminal justice.
“I know I want to do something in law enforcement,” McEvoy said. “I thought I wanted to be a police officer, but I’m still deciding. At least now as a team captain, I know how to take charge.”
McEvoy has definitely done that – both on and off the field – for the Scarlet Raiders.
